AT this time of the year, with darkness starting at about 4.30pm, I think it may be an opportune moment to remind motorists to switch on their car headlights at about this time.

Last week, at about 4.45pm, I was able to gently restrain an elderly woman who was about to cross the road right into the path of a black car without its headlights on.

In truth, I had almost made the same mistake but, luckily, I heard it approaching.

She said she found crossing the road very difficult in the early evenings as she had cataracts in both eyes and, at night, could only see moving cars if they had their lights on.

She will not be the only person walking around with less than perfect vision.

There will also be drivers who may find it difficult to see vehicles approaching in low light conditions.

Such people may simply move into the way of an oncoming vehicle thinking nothing is moving toward them.

I am pretty sure that, had there been a collision between that vehicle and the woman in question, the court may well have found the driver culpable of careless driving and he/she would additionally have had the death/injury of another human being on their conscience for the rest of their lives.

Some drivers do see the potential for accidents and switch on their sidelights, which in most cases is probably just a smidgen better than nothing. Sidelights are for parking, not driving.

The small amount of additional electric current needed to power headlights as opposed to sidelights is negligible and, if saving fuel is the goal, any miniscule savings would soon be used up in a claims process were there to be an accident.

So my plea is, please, drivers, as soon as darkness starts to fall when you are on your way in your car, just reach for the headlight switch and click it to the on position.

It’s so easy and it may save terrible heartache.

RICHARD KEYSER, Beechwood Avenue, Bournemouth