In the days and even weeks after daylight saving time (DST) begins, many people are still adjusting their internal clocks to the changes to the hours of daylight. This “springing forward” an hour affects how many people drive.
Even the “loss” of one hour can have a noticeable effect on the many Americans who are already not getting adequate sleep. One professor notes, “The springtime change leads to society-wide sleep deprivation.”
Further, with sunrise and sunset occurring later, anyone who needs to commute to and from work or take the kids to and from school may suddenly find themselves driving in near-darkness or into the sunrise in the morning and facing into a glaring sunset in the early evening.
Findings by researchers who have looked at the rates of collisions following the beginning and end of DST over the years have been inconsistent. Interestingly, they have found that a move to permanent DST would decrease the number of deer vs. vehicle collisions by 1.7% because deer tend to travel across roads when it’s darker out.
The dangers of sleep deprivation are compounded by changes to visibility
The changes in the hours of daylight that occur when DST begins and ends require drivers to deal with changing conditions that affect visibility. However, these changes do not relieve them of fault if they’re responsible for a crash because they were sleepy, blinded by the sun or neglected to turn on their headlights.
This time of year requires drivers to allow extra time to get to their destinations, whenever possible, to put a little more distance between themselves and the vehicle in front of them and to be especially careful about watching for pedestrians and bicyclists – particularly near schools and parks.
Unfortunately, not all drivers are conscientious. If you’ve suffered injuries in a crash caused by another driver, it’s crucial to get the compensation to which you’re entitled for medical bills and other expenses and damages. Getting early legal guidance is a good first step.