Drivers should bear safety in mind as British Summer Time ends and we head towards winter.

1. Optimum driving conditions are now ending after an autumn of reasonably good weather, so drivers may need to reduce speed commensurate with bad light and weather conditions.
2. More hours of darkness as the clocks go back may require even greater concentration and slower speeds - especially in the early evening when children may still be on their way home from school in the dark.
3. It's worth remembering that speed limits are not targets; they are there as a guide for driving in optimum conditions.
4. The period between late afternoon and early evening - the time when most casualties happen - is now in darkness.

Driver safety suggestions:

• Don't wait until it's fully dark to turn your lights on; consider seeing and being seen whenever conditions are dull.
• Don't drive on your parking lights; use dipped headlights.
• As a rule-of-thumb your dipped headlights or main beam should be on whenever your windscreen wipers are on.
• Keep your eyes 'on main beam' and remember; if you look to the far distance you'll see the things below your focal point - if you look below that focal point you will not see the things above it.  Try it!
• As light fades take particular care where children may be playing, especially between 4pm and 6pm.
• Look out for pedestrians and for cyclists wearing dark clothing.
• Check that your windscreen wiper blades are in good condition and that the washer reservoir is topped up.  It's an offence to let it run out.
• Keep the inside of the windscreen clean and clear by wiping away that summer haze before it begins to diffuse the low winter sun.
• Check your lights and tyres, including your spare tyre and carry a spare set of light bulbs.
• Keep your head lamps and tail lamps clean to keep them bright.
• Our message is simple.  See and be seen.