York Region encourages road safety behaviours as daylight saving time ends

By David Yin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

York Region is reminding residents to remain careful on roads as daylight saving time ends on Nov. 2.

Last week, a York Region public release said that the region has historically had more pedestrian-involved collisions in November than any other month of the year. The release also said that nearly 93 per cent of all pedestrian collisions and 87 per cent of all cyclist collisions lead to injuries or deaths.

A 2024 release by Allstate Insurance Company of Canada said that December, followed by January and November, experienced more collisions requiring an insurance claim than any other month in Canada, based on data collected from September 2022 to August 2024. Allstate reminds drivers that the performance of all-season tires can begin to drop when the temperature is below 7°C.

The York Region release said that the increased risk of collisions may be due to reduced daylight hours.

In a 2023 Transport Canada report, environmental factors contributed to around 20 per cent of fatal collisions, with speeding (25 per cent), impaired driving (22 percent) and distracted driving (18 per cent) also being contributors.

To ensure safety, York Region recommends pedestrians to avoid wearing dark clothing at night, wear reflective items, carry a flashlight, cross streets only at designated cross walks or intersections, and make eye contact with drivers when crossing the street.

York Region also recommends that cyclists use a front headlight and flashing red LED rear light, wear light-coloured clothing, equip a reflective safety vest or jacket, install spoke and pedal reflectors, and wear a strobe light on their arm.

For drivers, York Region recommends that they remain focused and aware of others, slow down in poor visibility and during other dangerous weather conditions, ensure windshield washer fluid is full and wipers are working properly, and turn on headlights in low light conditions.

Photo: York Region advises drivers to remain aware of cyclists and pedestrians, especially as days become shorter. (David Yin photo)