Time change

Early darkness poses a great danger to pedestrians

Sometimes crosswalks also have insufficient lighting(Bild: AllyE - stock.adobe.com)

Pedestrians are particularly at risk on the roads in the fall. The ÖAMTC explains:

The earlier it gets dark, the more careful drivers and pedestrians need to be. This is because a particularly high number of fatal accidents occur between November and January.

"With the time change, it gets dark earlier again. Many journeys - especially in the late afternoon and early evening - are then made in poor visibility," says David Nosé, ÖAMTC traffic technician, describing the danger. Accidents are particularly serious for older people - 42 percent of pedestrians killed are over 74 years old, although they are only involved in 14 percent of accidents. Particularly treacherous: pedestrians are not safe on safety paths either, as the lighting is often very poor.

Reflectors on clothing recommended
"Good visibility between drivers and pedestrians is essential for effective protection at crosswalks," emphasizes Nosé, who also recommends measures regarding clothing. "A person wearing reflectors can be seen from a distance of 130 meters, while a person wearing dark clothing can only be seen from around 25 meters."