The clocks go back: staying safe on Scotland's darker evenings

On the last Sunday of October the clocks go back an hour. The mornings get lighter for a while, but the walk home from work and school now happens in the dusk or the dark, and road safety charities have warned for years that pedestrian casualties rise in the weeks that follow. Within days it is Halloween, with children out on the pavements after dark.

Help drivers see you. The Highway Code (rule 3) says to wear or carry something light-coloured, bright or fluorescent in poor daylight, and to use reflective material, such as an armband, a sash or a strip on your bag, after dark. A dark coat on a wet road at night is very hard to pick out in headlights.

Where there is no pavement, walk on the right-hand side of the road so you face oncoming traffic, and keep in single file on narrow roads or in poor light (rule 2). Cross where you can see clearly both ways, and do not assume a driver has seen you just because you can see them.

On Halloween night children are out in groups, often in dark costumes and masks that make it hard for them to see traffic. The Highway Code (rule 4) says young children should not be out on the road alone. Add something reflective to costumes or bags, carry a torch, keep to well-lit streets, and agree a route and a time to be home.

If you are driving that evening, slow right down in residential streets. The Highway Code (rule 205) warns that pedestrians, especially children, may step into the road unexpectedly, and asks drivers to keep the safety of children in mind at a speed suitable for the conditions.

Clean your windscreen inside and out, check that every light works, and switch your headlights on as the light starts to fade rather than waiting for full darkness. Give people on foot more room and more time, especially near schools, bus stops and shops, and watch for anyone stepping out between parked cars.

Get medical help first, and call 999 if anyone is hurt. If you can, get the driver's name, address, registration and insurance details, the names and numbers of any witnesses, and photos of the scene. Write down what happened while it is fresh.

A pedestrian hurt by a driver can claim compensation from the driver's insurer. If the driver did not stop, or had no insurance, a claim can usually still be made through the Motor Insurers' Bureau.

In Scotland you normally have three years from the accident to raise an injury claim. For a child, the three years do not start until their 16th birthday, but it is still better to act early, while the evidence is fresh.

Scottish Accident deals with pedestrian injury claims for you, putting you in touch with a specialist solicitor on a no win, no fee basis.

If you have been hit by a vehicle while on foot, you can start your claim here or call us on 0141 258 2030.