Accident risk increases by over a third in the drive home from work after the clocks go back

The clock change brings challenging driving conditions such as reduced daylight and the onset of rainy and wet conditions

New analysis reveals a 34% increase in accident rates among motorists driving between 5.00pm and 8.00pm in the weeks directly following the October clock change.

The clock change brings with it a number of challenging driving conditions such as reduced daylight and the onset of rainy and wet conditions and according to insurethebox analysis, pushes up the risk of accident incidences by over a third across the UK on the ‘home time’ commute following the clock change.

• Male drivers are most at risk with a 37% increase in accidents between the hours of 5-8pm
• Female drivers see a 30% increase in accidents in the ‘home time’ rush hour after the clocks change
• Speed increases accident rates at any time of the day, but young drivers who speed at night between midnight and 7am are 3 times more likely to have an accident than those who speed during the day’[2]
• Scotland, Lancashire/Yorkshire and the Northern counties have the highest increase in accidents between the hours of 5- 8pm after the clock change at 50%, 49% and 46% respectively
• There’s a 35% increase in accidents between 5pm and 8pm by drivers in Wales and 34% in the Southern counties
• Only drivers in London, the East of England, the West and the Midlands recorded an increase in accidents of less than the national average at 33%; 30%; 26% and 25% respectively
• Morning rush hour (6–9am) accidents jump in Wales and the Midlands after the clocks go back, by 52% and 34% respectively

Young drivers, aged 17-25, with less experience on the roads are likely to be more vulnerable than older more experienced drivers – especially if this is their first experience driving in wintry conditions since passing their test, as their normal drive home from work will be much darker than usual after this weekend. The risk of having an accident increases when road conditions are poorly lit, wet and slippery.

insurethebox research shows that male drivers are most at risk of an accident with a 37% increase in accidents between the hours of 5-8pm compared to female drivers, who see a 30% increase in accidents.

Sarah Vaughan, Head of Pricing at insurethebox, commented: “Data shows that accident risk increases as a direct result of the clocks going back.

“For many young drivers, the evenings after the clock change will be their first experience of driving in the dark, coping with different conditions like reduced visibility.

“We have been encouraging young drivers to cut their speed over the last 2 years, and through proactively contacting drivers who frequently speed we have seen a 28% reduction in speeding instances among the highest risk drivers and cut the frequency of accidents in young drivers by 9%. That’s 80,000 drivers reducing their speed, nearly 1,000 serious road traffic accidents prevented, and numerous fatalities and serious injuries avoided.”