Dogs Trust releases guide just in time!

Prior to this Sunday's (28th October) clock change, Dogs Trust has released advice for walking dogs in the dark.

British Summer Time officially ends on Sunday morning when the clocks go backwards - despite the advantage of an extra hour in bed for most, it is now time to face the darker mornings and evenings.

With that in mind, Dogs Trust has released a guide to dog walking in the dark.

The advice includes; keep control of your dog and don’t let him off his lead unless you are in a safe area which is well lit, use a reflective collar and lead, or a high visibility coat or flashing collar, to increase your dog’s visibility in the dark and, if there is no pavement, walk against the flow of the traffic and keep your dog on the side farthest from the road.

The guide also includes last year's statistics from the Department for Transport, which show that there is an 18 per cent rise during the winter months in the number of reported pedestrians killed or seriously injured in road accidents in Great Britain.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is a charity that campaigns for lighter evenings in order to save lives.

Head of road safety, Kevin Clinton, said: “When walking, especially at this time of year, try to make yourself as conspicuous as possible and be aware that drivers may find it more difficult to spot you. Stay alert, don’t be tempted to dash across a road to save time.

“RoSPA also urges drivers to be aware that it may be more difficult to see pedestrians, especially in areas without street lights, so keep your speed down and give yourself plenty of time for your journeys.”