The clocks went back one hour at the weekend and as with every other year; it means the number of accidents on the roads of the UK will start to increase.

The dazzling winter sun was a contributory factor in 2,684 accidents in 2009 which means, incredibly, that the sun was to blame for more accidents than rain, snow, sleet or fog. Insurance companies know when they give a motor insurance quote that there will be more accidents when the darker mornings and evenings arrive in the UK.

All rush hour drivers face the risk of being dazzled by the sun which is going to be lower in the sky. Nobody is able to change the position of the sun, so drivers need to be prepared for change in conditions. A dirty windscreen will add more danger when the sun is low. If the sun blocks a drivers vision they should slow down accordingly, while keeping an eye on the cars behind, just in case the sun is blocking their vision.

It is not just the sun that will cause problems in winter as night driving always means the motorist has to cope with decreased visibility. The distance any driver can see is shortened and this means that a hazard can often appear, seemingly out of nowhere. It also takes time for the eyes to adjust to darkness after driving on a road that is well-lit. Some vulnerable drivers struggle at night may because it is difficult to make out an identifying shape.

Night driving means it is much harder to judge speed and distance and other vehicles can actually be closer than they appear or they could be travelling a lot faster than first thought. A lot of young drivers who have very little experience of driving in darkness are especially susceptible to have accidents at night. The lights on a vehicle are there for the safety of both the driver and those other road users. To drive a vehicle at night without lights is illegal. Drivers need to check that both front and rear lights are in full working order and clean before starting a journey. And any speed limit should never be exceeded.

Each year research tells us that women are far more concerned about driving at night than men and a lot of elderly drivers avoid driving at night as much as possible. Driving at night means that a driver’s natural alertness is lower and this makes driving at night an even greater danger. Being dazzled by car lights at night is another issue for many drivers, so it is very important to only use the appropriate lights for the weather conditions.