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By Tia Harrison-North
New data shows that evening rush-hour collisions on Britain’s roads rise by almost a quarter after the clocks go back in October.
Our research compared Department for Transport data on police-reported personal-injury collisions in Great Britain during the 21 days immediately before and after each autumn clock change from 2022 to 2025.
Across the four years, 5,326 collisions were recorded between 4pm and 7pm before the clocks changed, rising to 6,580 afterwards, an increase of 23.5%.
Collisions rose most sharply between 5pm and 6pm, increasing by 45.3% from 1,795 to 2,609 – the largest percentage rise recorded during any hour of the day.
Outside the 4pm to 7pm period, collision numbers fell by just 0.1% across the same before-and-after periods, suggesting a correlation with the darker evenings.
Evening collisions increased after the clock change in every year analysed, rising by 25.6% in 2022, 21.1% in 2023, 22.4% in 2024 and 25.1% in 2025.
Ben Welham, our motoring expert, said: “For many people, 5pm to 6pm is when they’re travelling home from work. A journey they’ve been making in daylight for weeks can suddenly take place in darkness once the clocks change.
“Even on a road you know well, reduced visibility can mean you have less time to spot and react to what’s happening ahead.
“Wet roads and poor weather can also make driving more challenging, but the figures are a useful reminder that drivers need to adapt as conditions change.”
Every region in England, as well as Scotland and Wales, recorded more 4pm to 7pm collisions after the clocks changed.
The biggest increases were:
At police-force level, 40 of the 44 areas analysed also recorded an increase.
South Wales Police saw the largest percentage rise at 87.1%, followed by Gwent Police at 73.1% and West Mercia Police at 70.3%.
With the clocks going back on Sunday 25 October, drivers are being encouraged to check their lights and windscreens before more everyday journeys take place in darkness.
Previous Freedom of Information research by cinch found over 19 million lighting-related defects were recorded in connection with MOT failures between 2020 and August 2025.
Of these, more than 7.2 million were for lights not working, while more than one million headlights were recorded as being aimed too low.
Welham added: “Before the darker evenings arrive, take a couple of minutes to check your headlights, rear lights, brake lights and indicators are all working, and clean any dirt from the lenses.
“If your headlights don’t seem to illuminate enough of the road ahead, it’s worth having the alignment checked rather than assuming that’s just how they’re supposed to be.
“Keep your windscreen clean inside and out, replace wipers that leave streaks and make sure you have enough screenwash in your used car.
“Once you’re driving, slow down if visibility is limited, leave more room from the vehicle ahead and take extra care around crossings, junctions and side roads where pedestrians and cyclists may be harder to spot.”
By Tia Harrison-North
New data shows that evening rush-hour collisions on Britain’s roads rise by almost a quarter after the clocks go back in October.
Our research compared Department for Transport data on police-reported personal-injury collisions in Great Britain during the 21 days immediately before and after each autumn clock change from 2022 to 2025.
Across the four years, 5,326 collisions were recorded between 4pm and 7pm before the clocks changed, rising to 6,580 afterwards, an increase of 23.5%.
Collisions rose most sharply between 5pm and 6pm, increasing by 45.3% from 1,795 to 2,609 – the largest percentage rise recorded during any hour of the day.
Outside the 4pm to 7pm period, collision numbers fell by just 0.1% across the same before-and-after periods, suggesting a correlation with the darker evenings.
Evening collisions increased after the clock change in every year analysed, rising by 25.6% in 2022, 21.1% in 2023, 22.4% in 2024 and 25.1% in 2025.
Ben Welham, our motoring expert, said: “For many people, 5pm to 6pm is when they’re travelling home from work. A journey they’ve been making in daylight for weeks can suddenly take place in darkness once the clocks change.
“Even on a road you know well, reduced visibility can mean you have less time to spot and react to what’s happening ahead.
“Wet roads and poor weather can also make driving more challenging, but the figures are a useful reminder that drivers need to adapt as conditions change.”
Every region in England, as well as Scotland and Wales, recorded more 4pm to 7pm collisions after the clocks changed.
The biggest increases were:
At police-force level, 40 of the 44 areas analysed also recorded an increase.
South Wales Police saw the largest percentage rise at 87.1%, followed by Gwent Police at 73.1% and West Mercia Police at 70.3%.
With the clocks going back on Sunday 25 October, drivers are being encouraged to check their lights and windscreens before more everyday journeys take place in darkness.
Previous Freedom of Information research by cinch found over 19 million lighting-related defects were recorded in connection with MOT failures between 2020 and August 2025.
Of these, more than 7.2 million were for lights not working, while more than one million headlights were recorded as being aimed too low.
Welham added: “Before the darker evenings arrive, take a couple of minutes to check your headlights, rear lights, brake lights and indicators are all working, and clean any dirt from the lenses.
“If your headlights don’t seem to illuminate enough of the road ahead, it’s worth having the alignment checked rather than assuming that’s just how they’re supposed to be.
“Keep your windscreen clean inside and out, replace wipers that leave streaks and make sure you have enough screenwash in your used car.
“Once you’re driving, slow down if visibility is limited, leave more room from the vehicle ahead and take extra care around crossings, junctions and side roads where pedestrians and cyclists may be harder to spot.”
