The Dangers of Daylight Savings Time It’s almost that time of year again: the end of daylight savings time. Daylight savings time will end on Sunday, November 3rd at 2:00 a.m. While many people are excited about gaining an extra hour of sleep, many are unaware of the potential dangers on the road. According to the National Road Safety Foundation, studies have shown an increase of traffic accidents after setting our clocks back an hour. This time change has a significant effect on our internal clocks, and it can take up to two weeks for our bodies to adjust. When daylight savings time ends, it gets darker outside, especially during rush hour when traffic is at its heaviest. As dusk approaches, drivers have less visibility on the road and are more likely to become drowsy and careless, which is a recipe for disaster. “Drowsy driving is a significant cause of traffic accidents with fatigue considered a factor in more than 100,000 crashes a year,” reveals David Reich of the National Road Safety Foundation. In fact, drowsy drivers aren’t the only ones who should watch out on the roads. The time switch has a detrimental effect on pedestrians as well. According to CNN, pedestrians who are walking around at dusk are three times more likely to be struck by a car, which can result in personal injury or wrongful death. To avoid accidents, pedestrians should use crosswalks instead of crossing the roads at dusk where drowsy drivers are less likely to see them. The NRSF has listed warning signs for drowsy drivers so they can avoid auto accidents as the end of daylight savings time approaches. Any driver who experiences the warning signs below should immediately pull over at the next exit and take a 20 minute nap. Drinking coffee and other caffeinated drinks can also wake up drivers, but it can take 30 minutes for the caffeine to take effect. The drowsy driver warning signs include:
- Difficulty focusing
- Rubbing eyes and frequent blinking
- Yawning
- Drifting out of your lane, tailgating or hitting rumble strips
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