Car insurance news
Twilight research may improve driver safety and reduce motor insurance claims
Autumn and winter are the two seasons that have the highest car accident rates and crashes at these times of the year result in many drivers struggling to get cheap motor insurance quotes. This increase in car accidents is believed to be down to the bad light and early dusk, which mean motorists cannot see upcoming hazards very clearly.
Some researchers from the National Physical Laboratory have been looking at how our eyes react to twilight in order to try to reduce the number of accidents that take place at this time of day.
Although much is known about the behaviour of the eye in light and dark conditions, the area of shift between the two light levels has not been the subject of many investigations.
The results of this study showed that although we can see in colour during the day, in moonlight our vision is dramatically impaired as colour is drained out and we see in mostly black and white. Twilight brings a mix of the two; there is still some colour sight but less so than what we are used to during daytime.
The scientists involved in the study are hoping to be able to put their results to good use in the development of new safety technology. It is thought that adapting headlights and street lighting to take account of twilight may improve the safety of drivers.
Corrine Aldous of duck2water Car Insurance Services said: "There are a disproportional number of motor insurance claims made after accidents at twilight when taking into account the amount of cars on the road.
"Lets hope that the findings of these researchers help to make it safer to drive in twilight conditions so that motorists can be protected from accidents and resulting expensive motor insurance quotes."