Hallowe’en + Time Change = Extra Caution for Drivers!

No doubt most Ontarians are aware of the ghostly holiday taking place later this week – scary decorations and jack-o-lanterns make for a fun distraction from the cooler and shorter days we are experiencing.  And on that note, we will also be getting an extra hour of sleep this weekend, courtesy of the end of daylight saving time in southern Ontario.

Ontario’s Injury Lawyers want to remind drivers and pedestrians to take extra care at this time of year to avoid costly accidents.

Hallowe’en

This Thursday evening, thousands of excited children will roam our neighbourhoods in search of the perfect (and numerous!) Hallowe’en treats.  This means there will be a great increase in the number of pedestrians on the roadways – young, excited and sometimes distracted pedestrians.  Drivers should take extra care and direct their full attention to driving to avoid any pedestrian accidents.  Reduce your speed and, if possible, avoid travelling in densely populated areas after dusk.  For more tips on how to keep trick-or-treaters safe this Hallowe’en, visit our 2012 blog by clicking here.

Turn the Clocks Back

Daylight Saving Time ends this weekend, on Sunday November 3rd.  That means we all get a welcome extra hour of sleep to recover from our Hallowe’en festivities.  It also means extra sunshine in the morning and an earlier sunset time in the evenings.  This earlier sunset may have important negative implications for pedestrians.  As reported by the CBC News, at least one study in the United States found that pedestrians walking during rush hour around 6 p.m. in the first few weeks after the clocks fall back were more than 3 times as likely to be fatally struck than before the change.

Common sense dictates that as we approach winter, with less light in the evenings and changing weather conditions, drivers should adjust their driving behaviours to avoid collisions.  Pedestrians too should focus their attention on their surroundings – bearing in mind that drivers are having to deal with reduced visibility.

Contact Ferguson Barristers

If you’ve been seriously injured in a car or pedestrian accident, contact us online or toll free at 1.800.563.6348 for a free, no obligation initial consultation.