With the changing seasons, Daylight Savings Time quickly approaches. In the U.S., DST involves setting the clocks forward one hour in the summer and back again in the fall. Unfortunately, the lost hour of daylight can impact car accidents.
The practice of DST may be dangerous for drivers to navigate.
Decreased visibility with less daylight
Following the end of DST, fatal car accidents increased by 5.4 to 7.5% for six days. Unfortunately, this occurs, in part, because of the reduced visibility. Darker roads can result in more car accidents as people find it more difficult to see pedestrians, road hazards and other vehicles. Along with the lack of daylight, the weather tends to become far more treacherous, with rain, snow and fog becoming more prevalent.
A change in circadian rhythm
People have to rely on their circadian rhythm to receive a good night’s sleep. The transition following setting the clocks back an hour can disrupt a person’s sleep schedule and result in sleep deprivation. Driver fatigue seriously threatens other drivers and passengers on the road. After a night of broken sleep, you may find it difficult to react to sudden obstacles in the road. In fact, drowsy drivers may have similar reaction times to those who drive under the influence of alcohol or illicit substances.
To mitigate the risks associated with ending DST and motor vehicle accidents, people must understand the danger of setting the clocks back an hour and how it may affect their bodies. Not recognizing your body needs time to adjust can result in reckless behavior behind the wheel.