Drivers must adjust to daylight saving time change

The fallback routine we perform annually this time of year involves more than just an extra hour of sleep.

The American Automobile Association warns that with the end of daylight saving time comes a greater risk of accidents on the roadway due to limited visibility and drowsiness affecting driver behavior.

In preparation for Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, November 3-9, AAA is encouraging drivers to be more aware of the increased risk of that potential due to altered sleep patterns and reduced vision caused by the changes in the day.

Drivers are also urged to ensure their eyes and prescription glasses are ready for the dark winter months.

Citing research from the Foundation for Traffic Safety, AAA said an estimated 17.6% of all fatal crashes between 2017 and 2021 involved a drowsy driver. In those five years, an estimated 29,800 people died in accidents involving someone in that alert state.

“While many will enjoy an extra hour of sleep… drivers may not be aware of the additional dangers that come with changing the time,” said Tracy Noble, spokesperson for the AAA Club Alliance. “This one-hour service during the fall not only creates darker driving conditions, but can also interrupt sleep patterns, potentially resulting in drowsy driving episodes.”

According to AAA, the symptoms of drowsy driving may be obvious, including trouble keeping your eyes open, drifting from lane to lane or not remembering the miles previously driven, but more than half of the drivers involved in fatigue-related accidents experienced no symptoms before falling asleep on the back. the wheel.

Citing the Foundation for Traffic Safety’s 2020 Traffic Safety Culture Index, AAA says data shows 95% of drivers consider drowsy driving very or extremely dangerous. However, despite the high level of perceived danger and disapproval of drowsy driving, around 17% admit to having been so tired that they found it difficult to keep their eyes open at least once in the past month.

Research from the AAA Foundation shows that drivers who sleep less than five hours have a crash risk comparable to that of drunk drivers, while drivers who miss one to two hours of sleep nearly double their risk of a crash.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said there were 684 deaths nationwide from drowsiness-related crashes in 2021, as tired, less focused drivers are at greater risk of becoming distracted.

To avoid drowsy driving, AAA recommends getting at least seven hours of sleep each night, traveling during times of the day when you are normally awake, and avoiding heavy foods and medications that cause drowsiness or other impairment.

On longer trips, also plan to take a break every two hours or 100 miles, and travel with an alert passenger. Take turns driving, or stop at a rest stop and take a short nap (at least 20 minutes and no more than 30 minutes of sleep) if necessary to ensure you are alert along the way.

At night, AAA recommends that drivers reduce their speeds and increase following distances because it is more difficult to judge the speeds and distances of other vehicles. Drivers should also use headlights at dawn and dusk to see better and be more visible to other drivers.

It is also critical to ensure that the headlights and taillights are working properly and are properly aligned. If headlights are not aimed correctly, they can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own vision of the road. AAA reminds drivers to keep your headlights on low beam when following another vehicle so you don’t crash into the driver in front of you.

AAA reports that first responders, construction workers and people stranded by car trouble on the side of the road can fall victim to distracted drivers. Between 2017 and 2021, nearly 2,000 people were killed outside their vehicles in roadside crashes, and nearly 1,500 — the vast majority — of those deaths occurred after dark.

“This data is extremely disturbing, especially as the darkest days of the year lie ahead, and serves as a reminder for drivers to slow down and move over when they see first responders, tow truck drivers and others with emergency lights flashing along the roadside,” said AAA’s Noble.

Pedestrians also become more vulnerable as the sun sets earlier. AAA says that in 2021, 76% of pedestrian deaths in collisions occurred after dark, and another 4% occurred at dusk or sunset.

“Pedestrians should also keep in mind that motorists may not always be able to see them at night or in the morning and late afternoon as motorists battle the sun’s glare,” Noble said. “Pedestrians should do their part by wearing bright colors and crossing at intersections or corners, which increases their visibility to motorists.”

While all these precautions are an expression of common sense, the above statistics explain why they still serve as an annual reminder.