Drivers issued warning over big change coming into force within days

By Christopher Sharp, News Reporter

Motorists have been warned the chances of an accident could rise this weekend (Image: Getty)

Drivers are being warned about a potential increase in the likelihood of an accident when the clocks go back this weekend.

On October 27, the UK will move from British Summer Time to Greenwich Mean Time. Ahead of this, the AA’s Accident Assist team has warned that this could see an increase in accidents.

The reason for the warning comes after the organisation saw an 11 percent rise in the number of accidents in the two weeks after the clocks moved back last year.

The warning comes as winter approaches and with it longer nights, colder temperatures, wetter days and as a result more treacherous driving conditions.

Conditions in the winter are normally trickier than they are in the summer (Image: Getty)

Speaking to Auto Express about the matter, Assist managing director Tim Rankin warned that the statistics “are clear that when the clocks fall back, we see a rise in the number of crashes”.

As a result of the alleged link between the clocks going back and car crashes, body clock expert Dr Gisela Helfer said it was time to end the practice.

She explained that “quite a few studies have now looked at a correlation between the clock change and things like heart attacks and car accidents”.

The University of Bradford academic added that the clocks going back is no longer necessary, expanding: “Clock changes were brought in originally to save money but there is currently no need to do this. I would argue it is time to end the practice of changing the clocks twice a year.”

Dr Helfer’s comments and warnings over the clocks going back follow a study which provided some positive news for motorists on how they can save money during a cost of living crisis.

One of the biggest annual expenses for regular drivers is the consumption of fuel, the less fuel someone can use over a year the more money they can theoretically save. One of the best ways to do this is to hypermile.

Hypermiling is the act of driving slower to use fuel, so rather than do 70mph on the motorway, someone might drive at 60mph instead. According to a study by Mythbusters, this can increase fuel efficiency by around 70 percent.

Despite the efficacity of hypermiling the website Hypermiler said this should only be done in the right conditions. They warned: “Hypermiling, as with any other form of driving technique, can be dangerous if used on the wrong road and in unsuitable traffic conditions.

“Please always be aware of other road users and do not endanger yourself or others for the sake of saving a few miles per gallon.”