Delivering while it's dark

[taurus88]

Starting this thread to hear your experiences of doing the job in the dark. I'm doing a bit of overtime tomorrow and I can just sense that I'll be cutting it fine in terms of getting the job done by the time the deadly dark closes in. Has anyone else been out there in the dark before? What's it like? I don't like the idea of it at all, I might just pack in the moment it threatens to get dark.

[mclovin]

Some of us will remember starting deliveries at 7am if not before, it was pitch black, we got a torch, grew a set and got on with it.

[smileski]

agreed! always used to deliver in the dark, just at the other end of the day!

[taurus88]

Some of us will remember starting deliveries at 7am if not before, it was pitch black, we got a torch, grew a set and got on with it.

Nah, there's something optimistic about going out in the dark, I've done that already. You know it's going. It's different, doing it in the dark when it's closing in rather than gently dissipating. It's different when the postie murderers are just getting up instead of just going to bed.

[resperin]

get a torch/source of light, as you will find it difficult to read the letters if its pitch black
look at bbc.co.uk/weather; find out what time it'll be dark at. it'll say something like 15:58 - thats when it starts getting dark, but it wont be pitch black until 16:30

[belle smith]

get a torch/source of light, as you will find it difficult to read the letters if its pitch black
look at bbc.co.uk/weather; find out what time it'll be dark at. it'll say something like 15:58 - thats when it starts getting dark, but it wont be pitch black until 16:30

Pitch black at 16:30.....were do you live skye?

[fishtank]

I remember starting my delivery at 0645 and it was pitch black...and finishing at 0810 and it was still a bit dark.
Now i'm still on IPS at 0810.....progress.

[Lincox]

If you have any sense you wont do it. Health and safety problems increase dramatically in the dark. Will Royal Mail look after you if you do yourself harm. Hardly. It,s an even bigger danger for female employees. Royal Mail should be spelling out the dangers to it,s employees. We all know what they are, but a responsible employer will lay down what you can and cannot do in the dark (No jokes please). Just issueing you with a torch is not being responsible. Aocket is hardly worth putting yourself at risk.

[Lincox]

Last line should read. A few bob in your pocket is hardly worth putting yourself at risk.

[RedBagMan]

Did some o/t today finishing just after 1700 - street lamps are really useful - together with the phrases "It's tomorrow's post - dead early" and "I'm in training for the Christmas Rush" - haven't asked about RM head torches yet ...

[Lincox]

Youll probably get a pm from Moya making you up to Assistant Chief executive.

[Spedley]

I remember reading under street light and segregating the mail in my fingers for each house until the next street light, i.e. 3 letters for number 10, 2 for number 12 etc.
That was mostly on Saturday mornings after waiting for the 7am minimum delivery time.

[sodiium]

Lastest i've been out delivering mail is 19:00 almost exactly 4 years ago. At 16:30 (starting to get dark) i thought sod this and went home for 3/4 hour break. By the time i started again it was pitch black & difficult to read the addresses on the mail. Slowed me right down. Needless to say i've never been out in the dark again and wouldnt recommend anyone ever deliver in the dark especially the evenings.

[lazyjack]

Done it once or twice a few year back over the christmas period, Avoid at all cost, Also must fling up a health and safety issue surely? i,e tripping over steps, bad weather, and muggings, depending on your area right enough

[wiganpostie]

Only three months into the job and still wet behind the ears, I agreed to do some relief bags on overtime at Christmas four years ago. Naturally, I got all the shittiest bags possible, and was out delivering until 6.30 pm. It was extremely demoralising because practically every householder commented on the lateness of the mail, not to mention that it was pissing down and I could hardly read the addresses as a result of both the rain and the dark. Never again.