# Clock change in France: caution, visibility checks and burglaries > At the end of October 2026, after the switch to winter time, several calls for caution were issued as night falls earlier, particularly for scooters and bicycles, with wearing a high-visibility vest remaining mandatory but little respected. The prefectures of Nord and Pas-de-Calais reminded people of visibility and road safety instructions. La Prévention Routière organized checks and free courses in Normandy and Besançon, while campaigns and vehicle check operations were held in several cities. Gendarmes from Doubs then Haut-Rhin reported an increase in burglaries favored by the clock change and called for vigilance. In early November, visibility awareness actions were launched in Boulogne-sur-Mer and Villeneuve-d'Ascq, and a doctor gave advice on sleep disorders. **In brief**: Ongoing story bringing together 20 events in 15 departments (Doubs, Nord, Pas-de-Calais and 12 more), followed from 24 October 2026 to 8 November 2026. 46 articles from 26 sources (security, society, health); last updated on 8 November 2026 at 07:18. Reported toll: 79 deaths. - Status: ongoing - Category: Security, Society, Health - Place: Doubs, Nord, Pas-de-Calais, Aube, Calvados, Cher, Eure, Manche, Marne, Oise, Orne, Haut-Rhin, Seine-Maritime, Somme, Var - First detected: 24 October 2026 at 09:30 - Updated: 8 November 2026 at 07:18 - Web page: https://acturadar.com/en/stories/38-clock-change-in-france-caution-visibility-checks-and-burglaries ## Reported figures - 79 deaths ## Coverage angles The three sides address the switch to winter time from distinct angles: the left emphasizes criticism of the measure and its history, the center focuses on concrete risks (road, visibility, sleep) and the debate over its usefulness, the right on effects on the body, seasonal health, and a heritage angle around the Allouis transmitter. **Common ground** - The switch to winter time took place on the night of 24 to 25 October 2026, with clocks set back one hour - Night falls earlier after the change, affecting end-of-day travel - The debate on abolishing the biannual clock change is mentioned - The idea of an extra hour of sleep is questioned **Differences** - The left highlights the energy origin of the measure in 1975 and criticisms, while the center discusses real savings and the right the blocking of the reform in Brussels - The center details road risks and prevention operations (checks, courses, lighting), an angle little present on the left and right - The right addresses seasonal depression and the Allouis transmitter, subjects absent from the left and center articles provided - The center insists on the vulnerability of child pedestrians, an element not taken up by the other sides ## Timeline (20 events) ### 24 October 2026 — [Passage à l'heure d'hiver dans la nuit du 24 au 25 octobre 2026](https://acturadar.com/en/events/226-passage-a-l-heure-d-hiver-dans-la-nuit-du-24-au-25-octobre-2026.md) Les Français reculeront leurs montres d'une heure dans la nuit du samedi 24 au dimanche 25 octobre 2026, comme chaque dernier dimanche d'octobre. 1 sources, 1 articles · Nationwide ### 24 October 2026 — [France switches to winter time from Saturday to Sunday](https://acturadar.com/en/events/15-france-switches-to-winter-time-from-saturday-to-sunday.md) The country turns its clocks back one hour from Saturday to Sunday, marking the switch to winter time. 15 sources, 17 articles · Nationwide ### 26 October 2026 — [The switch to winter time disrupts driving and road safety](https://acturadar.com/en/events/671-the-switch-to-winter-time-disrupts-driving-and-road-safety.md) The time change affects drivers' drowsiness and visibility, with an increase in accidents between 5pm and 7pm. 5 sources, 5 articles · Nationwide ### 26 October 2026 — [Dans le Cher, l'émetteur d'Allouis diffuse l'heure officielle de la France](https://acturadar.com/en/events/669-dans-le-cher-l-emetteur-d-allouis-diffuse-l-heure-officielle-de-la-france.md) Alors que la France passe à l'heure d'hiver, l'émetteur d'Allouis dans le Cher transmet l'heure officielle aux horloges des gares, hôpitaux et écoles. 1 sources, 1 articles · Allouis — Cher ### 26 October 2026 — [Debate on the end of daylight saving time](https://acturadar.com/en/events/563-debate-on-the-end-of-daylight-saving-time.md) As France switches to winter time, the question of abolishing the biannual clock change returns to the debate, the 2019 European proposal being frozen. 1 sources, 3 articles · Nationwide ### 26 October 2026 — [Electric scooters: increased risks at night despite reflective vest](https://acturadar.com/en/events/1078-electric-scooters-increased-risks-at-night-despite-reflective-vest.md) With the time change and night falling earlier, accident risks for scooters and bikes increase. Wearing a reflective vest remains mandatory but little respected. 2 sources, 2 articles · Nationwide ### 26 October 2026 — [La préfecture du Nord appelle à la prudence après le passage à l'heure d'hiver](https://acturadar.com/en/events/875-la-prefecture-du-nord-appelle-a-la-prudence-apres-le-passage-a-l-heure-d-hiver.md) La préfecture de la région Hauts-de-France et du Nord rappelle les consignes de visibilité et de prudence pour les piétons, cyclistes et automobilistes, la nuit tombant plus tôt après le changement d'heure. 1 sources, 1 articles · Nord ### 27 October 2026 — [Pas-de-Calais : appel à la prudence après le passage à l'heure d'hiver](https://acturadar.com/en/events/1608-pas-de-calais-appel-a-la-prudence-apres-le-passage-a-l-heure-d-hiver.md) La préfecture du Pas-de-Calais rappelle les bons réflexes de sécurité routière après la baisse de luminosité liée au passage à l'heure d'hiver. 1 sources, 1 articles · Pas-de-Calais ### 27 October 2026 — [Le changement d'heure permet-il vraiment des économies d'énergie ?](https://acturadar.com/en/events/2162-le-changement-d-heure-permet-il-vraiment-des-economies-d-energie.md) Après le passage à l'heure d'hiver, un fact-checking examine les économies d'énergie réelles du changement d'heure, modestes et surtout réalisées en été. 1 sources, 1 articles · Nationwide ### 28 October 2026 — [La Prévention Routière organise des contrôles de visibilité en Normandie](https://acturadar.com/en/events/3554-la-prevention-routiere-organise-des-controles-de-visibilite-en-normandie.md) Avec le passage à l'heure d'hiver, la nuit tombe plus tôt et les accidents augmentent. La Prévention Routière organise tout l'automne des contrôles gratuits des véhicules dans plusieurs villes de Normandie. 1 sources, 1 articles · Normandie — Calvados, Eure, Manche, Orne, Seine-Maritime ### 30 October 2026 — [Besançon : la Prévention routière organise des stages de visibilité hivernale](https://acturadar.com/en/events/4907-besancon-la-prevention-routiere-organise-des-stages-de-visibilite-hivernale.md) La Prévention routière propose les 3 et 10 novembre à Besançon deux stages destinés aux cyclistes, piétons et usagers de trottinettes pour rappeler l'importance d'être visible après le passage à l'heure d'hiver. 2 sources, 2 articles · Besançon — Doubs ### 30 October 2026 — [Doubs : les cambriolages crépusculaires augmentent avec le changement d'heure](https://acturadar.com/en/events/4997-doubs-les-cambriolages-crepusculaires-augmentent-avec-le-changement-d-heure.md) Pendant les vacances de la Toussaint, les cambriolages ont légèrement augmenté dans le Doubs, favorisés par le changement d'heure. La commandante du groupement de gendarmerie départemental appelle à la vigilance. 1 sources, 1 articles · Doubs ### 30 October 2026 — [Campaign "Cyclists, shine" on bicycle lighting](https://acturadar.com/en/events/5031-campaign-cyclists-shine-on-bicycle-lighting.md) ADAV is organizing an awareness-raising action Tuesday on the importance of lighting for riding safely at night. 2 sources, 2 articles · Reims — Marne ### 31 October 2026 — [Romilly-sur-Seine : contrôles gratuits pour préparer les voitures à l'hiver](https://acturadar.com/en/events/5814-romilly-sur-seine-controles-gratuits-pour-preparer-les-voitures-a-l-hiver.md) Une opération gratuite de prévention routière s'est tenue place des Martyrs à Romilly-sur-Seine, comme chaque année au moment du passage à l'heure d'hiver. 1 sources, 1 articles · Romilly-sur-Seine — Aube ### 2 November 2026 — [In Compiègne, a garage services cars free of charge for winter](https://acturadar.com/en/events/7019-in-compiegne-a-garage-services-cars-free-of-charge-for-winter.md) In Compiègne, an association-run garage offers to prepare vehicles free of charge for winter. 1 sources, 1 articles · Compiègne — Oise ### 2 November 2026 — [In Longueau, ACC offers free checks of headlights, tires and brake fluid](https://acturadar.com/en/events/7236-in-longueau-acc-offers-free-checks-of-headlights-tires-and-brake-fluid.md) The Automobile Club of Railway Workers (ACC) is organizing a free vehicle inspection operation in Longueau (Somme) to prepare motorists for winter. 1 sources, 2 articles · Longueau — Somme ### 3 November 2026 — [Lighting village in Villeneuve-d'Ascq](https://acturadar.com/en/events/8374-lighting-village-in-villeneuve-d-ascq.md) A 'lighting village' event is being held on Tuesday in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, with a segment dedicated to safety and visibility. 1 sources, 1 articles · Villeneuve-d'Ascq — Nord ### 4 November 2026 — [Changement d'heure : les conseils d'un médecin face aux troubles du sommeil](https://acturadar.com/en/events/9710-changement-d-heure-les-conseils-d-un-medecin-face-aux-troubles-du-sommeil.md) Un médecin explique combien de temps peut durer la période d'adaptation pour les Français qui peinent à retrouver un sommeil réparateur après le changement d'heure. 1 sources, 1 articles · Nationwide ### 4 November 2026 — [Boulogne launches the "Well Seen" campaign on cyclist and pedestrian visibility](https://acturadar.com/en/events/9732-boulogne-launches-the-well-seen-campaign-on-cyclist-and-pedestrian-visibility.md) The Boulogne-sur-Mer agglomeration has launched its "Bien vu" (Well Seen) campaign linked to the time change, with actions focused on accidents and the visibility of cyclists. 1 sources, 1 articles · Boulogne-sur-Mer — Pas-de-Calais ### 5 November 2026 — [Près de Colmar : les cambriolages augmentent depuis le passage à l'heure d'hiver](https://acturadar.com/en/events/10703-pres-de-colmar-les-cambriolages-augmentent-depuis-le-passage-a-l-heure-d-hiver.md) Les gendarmes du Haut-Rhin constatent une hausse des cambriolages autour de Colmar depuis le changement d'heure et appellent à la vigilance. 1 sources, 1 articles · Colmar — Haut-Rhin --- Cite as: Acturadar, “Clock change in France: caution, visibility checks and burglaries”, https://acturadar.com/en/stories/38-clock-change-in-france-caution-visibility-checks-and-burglaries Methodology: https://acturadar.com/en/methodology