BACK: It’s nearly time to fall back, wtih daylight savings time ending at 2 a.m. Sunday.
AAA is offering some driving tips while motorists get used to the challenges that could impact the safety of pedestrians and other vehicles on the road.
“While the extra hour of sleep may be nice, the time change can be deadly for pedestrians,” said Theresa Podguski, director of legislative affairs, AAA East Central. “Twilight is one of the most challenging times of the day to drive, so extra precautions can go a long way in the weeks ahead.”
The end of daylight saving time change can also cause disturbed sleep patterns for motorists, and when combined with the earlier dusk, they can become a formula for drowsy driving and fatigue-related crashes. Research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has revealed that because it is more difficult to detect following a crash, drowsy driving incidents are nearly eight times more common than federal estimates indicate. Moreover, researchers at Stanford University and Johns Hopkins University have found that the effects of the time change on motorists have been shown to last up to two weeks following the time change.
Tips for motorists:
Get plenty of rest. Symptoms of drowsy driving can include having trouble keeping your eyes open, drifting from lanes, or not remembering the last few miles driven.
Get some shades. Wear high-quality sunglasses and adjust the car’s sun visors as needed to avoid glare in the morning.
Change driving habits. Reduce speeds and increase following distances, especially in more populated areas.
Ditch the distractions. This can include cell phones, infotainment systems, or clocks that need to be turned back an hour.
Use the headlights. This can make you more visible to pedestrians in the morning and evening. Don’t forget, even though the time changed, many will stick to their normal habits of walking home or exercising in the later hours.
Remember to yield. Pedestrians have the right of way in crosswalks. Also, don’t pass vehicles stopped at crosswalks. Remember to yield the right of way to pedestrians in crosswalks.
