LATE AUTUMN 16:45 LIGHT DROP AND BRAKE TIMING MISJUDGMENT IN CATALKOY

In late autumn, Catalkoy changes character earlier than drivers expect.

Around 16:45, light levels drop quickly along the main east–west corridor. The shift is not dramatic like a storm front. It is gradual, but compressed within a narrow time window. Drivers who began their journey in full daylight continue under conditions that no longer match initial visibility.

This is a transition problem.

The road geometry through Catalkoy remains constant. Traffic volume at this hour is moderate, especially westbound toward Kyrenia. However, contrast perception begins to weaken as the sun lowers behind the mountain line.

Brake timing becomes slightly misaligned.

A common late-autumn scenario unfolds on the main road descending gently from upper residential areas toward the lower corridor. Vehicles move at steady speed. A lead vehicle approaches a junction or minor merge point and begins braking normally.

The following driver perceives deceleration fractionally later than during full daylight. Not because brake lights are invisible, but because ambient contrast is reduced. The red glow competes with a dimming environment.

That fraction of a second matters.

Braking becomes firmer in the final moments. Following distance compresses. Minor rear contact risk increases.

The 16:45–17:30 window is particularly sensitive in November and early December. After full darkness settles and headlights dominate visual cues, perception stabilizes again. The unstable phase exists in between daylight and night.

Upper Catalkoy introduces an additional factor.

As light fades, hillside shadows extend across certain bends and straight segments. Parts of the road appear darker than others even before sunset completes. Drivers moving between bright and shaded sections require micro-adjustments in focus.

This adjustment is rarely conscious.

It manifests as slightly delayed reaction to routine braking.

Another behavioural element reinforces the exposure. Many drivers at this hour are in return mode. Cognitive load increases due to fatigue and schedule pressure. The combination of reduced light contrast and mental preoccupation narrows reaction windows.

Importantly, speed is not excessive during this period. In fact, overall velocity may be slightly lower than midday. The issue lies in perception lag rather than acceleration.

Environmental conditions amplify the pattern during overcast autumn days. When cloud cover removes clear sunlight, the drop in visibility can feel sudden. The human eye takes time to recalibrate.

In Catalkoy, where residential feeders intersect with the commuter corridor, braking sequences occur frequently. Each sequence becomes slightly more compressed during light transition.

Minor collisions during this window often occur at low speed, typically in the final meter of stopping distance. The pattern is repetitive rather than severe.

Once headlights become dominant and full dusk sets in, visual contrast improves again. Brake lights stand out sharply against darkness. Reaction timing normalizes.

But during the narrow late-autumn window around 16:45, Catalkoy briefly operates in reduced contrast mode.

The road does not change.

The light does.

And brake timing follows perception.