New Forest Roads Awareness urges drivers to slow down in New Forest as clocks go forward one hour this weekend

DRIVERS are being urged to take extra care on the roads as the clocks go forward an hour tomorrow morning (Sunday).

New Forest Roads Awareness, which works with police and local authorities to educate motorists on the impact of animal accidents, says the mornings will be darker due to daylight saving time, which happens at 2am tomorrow.

Spokesperson Gilly Jones said: “The clocks are changing this weekend and the mornings will be dark again. We want to remind people that the livestock are on the roads day and night.”

The group often joins forces with police for speed checks as part of the ongoing Operation Mountie campaign to slow down drivers and cut district livestock deaths.

Gilly added: “We find with Operation Mountie that the speeds come down as it gets lighter. This means that some people are driving across the Forest without even thinking about the livestock. Forty miles per hour is the top speed you should be at, if it is safe to do – in the dark 30mph is best.

“If you have a dash cam – and we ask you all to get one – please change your time on that too.”

As reported in the A&T, the group says there has been a “catastrophic” rise in Forest animal collisions this year, with nine killed in the first nine weeks of 2025, and 21 collisions.