Winter Road Safety - Be Safe, Be Seen.
Road users face greater risk during the winter months. We
will all be spending more time walking, cycling and driving in
darkness, which is far more dangerous than walking, cycling or
driving in daylight.
Also due to the geographical nature of North
Wales it is important to remember when walking on rural unlit
roads, to ensure you have a working/fully charged torch so you are
able to see where you are going and most importantly be seen by
other road users.
Walking when it’s
dark.
Everyone is more vulnerable during the winter
as you are less visible to motorists. We need to wear something
bright and take extra care when out and about near roads.
The key messages are:
Make sure you can be easily seen at all times, but especially at
night, on dark days and in bad weather.
Bright or fluorescent clothes show up best by day, especially in
dull or misty weather.
By night, reflective material is best and shows up in car
headlights – fluorescent clothing doesn’t work after dark.
Reflective tape can be put on clothing, school bags and
equipment.
Cross the road at the safest place possible for example, zebra,
pelican, puffin and patrolled crossings.
Use the Green Cross Code: Stop, Look, Listen, Live.
If you are out at night, choose routes that are well-lit by
streetlights and cross at well-lit places.
Cycling when it’s
dark.
The advice given to pedestrians about being
seen applies equally to cyclists. In addition, bikes need to be
equipped with good lights. It is an offence to cycle at night
without a white front light, a red back light and a red reflector
at the back.
Driving when it’s dark.
Ninety percent of a
driver’s reaction depends on vision, and vision is severely limited
at night.
The key messages are:
Make sure all lights are clean, working and adjusted
properly.
Make sure the windscreen is clean inside and out.
Use headlights whenever visibility is reduced – for example, early
morning, at dusk, when it’s raining or in any gloomy conditions.
It’ll help others to see you.
Increase your following distance so you don’t blind the driver
ahead of you.
Don’t dazzle others with your main beam.
Reduce your speed. You should be able to stop within the distance
you can see.
If your vehicle breaks down, pull off the road as far as possible
and switch on the hazard warning lights.
Older drivers face greater difficulties. A 50 year old driver may
need twice as much light to be able to see as well as a 30 year
old.
Please also visit our advice and
support pages, for more information when you are out and
about.
REMEMBER BE SAFE, BE SEEN.