Be Seen When the Clocks Go Back

The clocks go back at 2am on Sunday 25 October 2026. From the Monday after, the ride or run home happens in the dark. The roads notice: RoSPA reports around 10% more collisions that kill or injure a pedestrian in the four weeks after the change. Drivers don't stop looking. You just get much harder to see. Here's how to fix that in five minutes.

The be seen checklist

• Lights on, front and rear. A white front light and red rear light are a legal requirement after dark, not a nice to have. Charge them before the last Sunday in October.
• Reflective for the dark, fluorescent for the dusk. Hi-vis yellow works while there's still some daylight. After dark, only reflective material bounces headlights back at the driver. The best kit combines both.
• Put reflective where you move. Drivers pick out moving reflectors first, so ankles, wrists and shoulders beat a static patch on your back.
• Cover the dark stuff. A black rucksack hides most of your back and a black helmet tops off a dark outline. Hi-vis covers fix both in seconds.

Gear that gets you seen

Shop the full hi-vis clothing collection

Be seen FAQs

When do the clocks go back in 2026?

At 2am on Sunday 25 October 2026, when British Summer Time ends and UK clocks go back one hour. Sunset in London is around 4:40pm by early November, earlier the further north you are.

What's the difference between hi-vis and reflective?

Fluorescent hi-vis yellow reacts to daylight, so it works in the day and at dusk but does almost nothing at night. Reflective material bounces headlights straight back at the driver, so it works in the dark. After the clocks change you want both on the same garment.

Do I need bike lights by law in the UK?

Yes. After dark you need a white front light and a red rear light, plus a red rear reflector and amber pedal reflectors on bikes made after 1985. A hi-vis layer isn't a legal requirement, but lights alone don't make you visible from the side.

What should runners wear in the dark?

A reflective gilet over your normal running kit is the simplest fix: it's light, it doesn't flap and it glows under headlights. Reflective detail on moving joints such as ankles and wrists helps drivers spot you sooner.

When should I sort my kit out?

Early October. From late September the evening commute slides into dusk. By the end of October it's dark before most people leave work, so kit bought after the clocks change misses the worst fortnight.

Free UK delivery on everything above. If you only do one thing before 25 October, make it a gilet and a set of lights.