Since the clocks went back at the end of October, a lot of us are now doing the school run, the commute or the supermarket dash in the dark, sometimes both ends of the day. Road safety data consistently shows a rise in incidents involving pedestrians and cyclists around this time of year, so it’s a sensible moment for a quick, practical check rather than a drastic change to how you drive.
Check your lights, properly
It sounds obvious, but faults that go unnoticed over summer suddenly become very apparent once you’re relying on your headlights every day. Walk around the car and check all your lights are working, including number plate lights and indicators, and get anything dim or flickering sorted before it becomes a problem (or an MOT fail, or worse, a conversation with a police officer).
Keep your windscreen properly clean, inside and out
A greasy film on the inside of your windscreen catches the low winter sun and oncoming headlights in a way that can genuinely blind you for a second or two. A proper wipe down with glass cleaner, not just a quick swipe with your sleeve, makes a bigger difference than most people expect. Top up your screenwash too, and check your wiper blades aren’t leaving streaks.
Dealing with fog
If you hit fog, resist the urge to use full beam. It reflects off the moisture in the air and actually makes visibility worse. Dipped headlights, or front fog lights if conditions are bad enough, are the better option. And if you’ve used your fog lights, remember to turn them off once visibility improves properly, since they can dazzle drivers behind you. One habit worth building: if visibility suddenly clears, don’t assume it’ll stay that way. Fog often comes in patches, so easing off on speed for a bit longer than feels necessary is usually the right call.
Rain, ice and standing water
Stopping distances roughly double in the wet, so give yourself more room than you think you need. If frost is forecast, a few extra minutes in the morning clearing every window properly (not just a letterbox-sized patch) is worth it, both for visibility and because driving with obscured windows is an offence. And if you’re driving through standing water near pedestrians or cyclists, slowing down to avoid soaking them isn’t just good manners, it can count as inconsiderate driving under the Highway Code.
Don’t underestimate tiredness
Darker mornings and evenings can throw off your sleep more than people expect, and tiredness behind the wheel is a genuine risk, not just an inconvenience. If a journey feels like a slog and you’re struggling to concentrate, a short break and a coffee is a better call than pushing on.
None of this requires buying anything new or overhauling your routine. A bit of extra care over the next few months goes a long way, and before you know it, the evenings will be drawing out again.