Darker journeys, brighter drivers: GEM’s five-point plan for seeing and being seen

• More and more commutes and school runs now end in darkness

• 21% of pedestrians involved in fatal or serious collisions were recorded as ‘hard to see’.

• GEM offers a simple five-point plan for seeing and being seen

We're urging drivers to see and be seen, a week after the clocks went back and the evening commute moved into darkness.

Department for Transport* analysis shows that in more than one in five (21%) fatal or serious collisions involving pedestrians in 2024-25, the pedestrian was recorded as hard to see.

The weekday peak for pedestrians killed or seriously injured falls between 3pm and 6pm – hours that shift into dusk and darkness once the clocks go back.

To help drivers adjust, GEM has produced a simple five-point plan for seeing and being seen. It covers the checks and habits that matter most once journeys end in darkness.

· The plan starts with lights. Use dipped headlights from dusk, switching to main beam on unlit roads and dipping promptly for other road users.

· Check headlight alignment, too: misaligned lights dazzle oncoming drivers and fail to light the road properly, and most garages will check them quickly.

· Visibility works both ways, so keep windscreens and lights clean inside and out, and top up washer fluid to beat glare.

· Anyone walking, running or cycling after dark should wear or carry something reflective, as bright clothing alone can be almost invisible in headlights. Cyclists should also make sure they comply with the law regarding lights, and to ensure they are clean and strong enough for other road users to see.

· Finally, anticipate pedestrians and cyclists in poor light, especially near schools, crossings and bus stops, and slow down where lighting is sparse.

GEM head of road safety James Luckhurst said: “Getting used to darker journeys takes a few days, so build in extra time and expect the unexpected. The riskiest period is late afternoon and early evening, when children are walking home and commuters are on the move.

“Staying safe in the dark needs neither expensive kit nor expert knowledge. Lights on and correctly aimed, a clean windscreen, something reflective if you’re on foot or a bike and a mindset that expects to see people whatever the light. These simple checks cost nothing and could make all the difference – to your safety or someone else’s.”

* gov.uk Reported road casualties Great Britain: pedestrian factsheet 2025

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