The clocks have gone back an hour, with Sunday 25th October marking the day we switch from British Summer Time to Greenwich Mean Time.
That will bring (at least temporarily) brighter mornings, but noticeably darker evenings from now on in. While an extra hour in bed might have been welcome, the change also signals a period of increased road risk for fleet drivers and other road users.
Recent accident-assistance claims figures highlight the potential impact. In the two weeks following the October 2025 clock change, claims rose by 7.8%, increasing from 2,949 in the preceding fortnight to 3,178 afterwards.
Although these figures don’t necessarily mean every fleet faces the same increase in risk, they reinforce the importance of adapting driving habits as autumn conditions take hold.
Why does the clock change increase road risk?
For many drivers, the biggest adjustment is finding themselves travelling home in darkness, despite making the same journey in daylight just a few weeks earlier.
Reduced visibility makes it harder to spot hazards, particularly pedestrians and cyclists at junctions, crossings and on residential roads.
Autumn also brings other challenges. Low sun can cause glare during morning journeys, while rain, wet leaves and slippery road surfaces can increase stopping distances.
For employees who spend several hours behind the wheel each day, these conditions can make an already demanding job more hazardous.
Drivers travelling through rural areas face another seasonal concern, too, with wildlife posing a road safety hazard.
Analysis of Department for Transport data covering 2021 to 2025 found that 54% of animal-related collisions resulting in human casualties occurred in darkness, compared with 28% of reported injury collisions overall.
Almost four in five animal-related collisions (79%) occurred on rural roads.
Animals can appear unexpectedly, leaving drivers very little time to react. This makes appropriate speeds, good visibility and awareness of the surrounding environment particularly important.
What should fleet managers be doing?
The clock change provides a useful opportunity for fleet operators to reinforce seasonal driving safety messages with employees.
Some practical steps include:
- Remind drivers to adjust their speed: Encourage employees to drive according to visibility, weather and road conditions, rather than simply the posted speed limit.
- Check vehicle condition: Ensure headlights, brake lights, wipers and tyres are properly maintained and working effectively.
- Highlight vulnerable road users: Remind drivers to take particular care around pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists during darker commuting hours.
- Review journey planning: Where possible, allow additional travelling time during poor weather and avoid schedules that encourage rushing.
- Reinforce fatigue awareness: Darker evenings can contribute to tiredness, making regular breaks and sensible working schedules important.
A timely reminder for fleet safety
The clocks changing might seem like a small seasonal adjustment, but the consequences for road safety can be significant.
For businesses operating vehicle fleets, it’s an opportunity to revisit driver communications, reinforce existing safety policies and encourage employees to think carefully about changing road conditions.
At Driving Monitor, we believe that keeping road safety at the forefront of drivers’ minds is an essential part of effective fleet risk management, including through Risk Monitor and Fleet Monitor.
A few timely reminders now could help prevent incidents throughout the darker months ahead…
