Does Daylight-Saving Time Cause More Car Accidents?

Each year in November, daylight-Saving time ends on the first Sunday and doesn’t begin again until the second Sunday in March.

Many Americans are quite fond of the end of daylight-saving time when we “fall back” and regain an extra hour of sleep.

It’s believed that the United States largely participates in daylight-saving time to conserve energy – but, with that said, recent research will show that there are multiple unintended consequences related to daylight-saving time – like motor vehicle accidents.

Associated Risks of Daylight-Saving Time

The University of Colorado at Boulder had found that there was a 6% increase in fatal motor vehicle accidents during the week following the second Sunday in March when we ‘spring forward’. According to their research, this resulted in roughly 30 extra motor vehicle fatalities each year.

On the other hand, the time change during the fall means that suddenly the sun is out at 7:00 A.M., but completely gone by 5:00 P.M., which will take a while for the mind and body to acclimate to. For commuters who are driving home after work, it can feel much later, and it can be hard to adjust to now having to navigate through traffic while also in the dark.

The time change, combined with shorter days can leave many folks feeling quite drowsy and ready for bed. If you couple this drowsy feeling together with any type of sleep disruption (see below) it’s natural to see people engage in unsafe or aggressive driving behavior like swerving, tailgating, cutting off other drivers, running through a red light, and more.

Sleep Deprivation and Driving

As per the National Sleep Foundation, roughly 60% of adults in the United States admit to driving while drowsy, and just over 30% admit to falling asleep behind the wheel.

The effects of drowsy driving are far too similar to those of drunk driving – at 18 hours without sleep, people will begin to drive as if they have a blood-alcohol level of .05., and after 24 hours, that number doubles to .10 – for reference, a blood-alcohol level of .08 is considered drunk.

The Washington Post reported on information they obtained from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety Report where they examined just over 4,500 motor vehicle accidents to help determine just how impactful sleep deprivation is to a driver’s overall ability to avoid accidents.

Here’s a breakdown of what they found:

• Hours Slept: Less Than 4.
  • Increased Accident Risk: 11.5%

• Hours Slept: 4-5 Hours.
  • Increased Accident Risk: 4.3%

• Hours Slept: 5-7 Hours.
  • Increased Accident Risk: 1.9%

Quick Drowsy Driving Facts:

• Drowsy driving has contributed to 83,000 motor vehicle accidents from 2005 to 2009.
• Over 45% of drowsy drivers tend to nod off between the hours of 9 P.M. and 6 A.M.
• Over people died due to drowsy driving-related motor vehicle accidents in 2014 alone.

How Can I Avoid Accidents After the Time Change?

There have been plenty of conversations about whether or not DST should be removed altogether, but unfortunately, until that happens the only thing we can do is take proactive steps to avoid serious accidents.

Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Try to get at least 8 hours of sleep every night.
• If you start to feel drowsy, pull over to a safe, well-lit area. Try to get some fresh air or take a short nap.
• Caffeinated drinks (coffee, soda, etc.) are great and can help, but it’s important to not use them as a crutch or a long-term remedy.
• Always maintain a safe distance from others, especially in traffic and even more so at night.
• Make sure your windshield is clean, free of debris, leaves, dirt, and anything that can affect your visibility.
• Avoid two-lane highways, as they’re more likely to be poorly lit and contain sharp curves.
• Avoid talking, texting, or engaging with your phone in any way.
• Use extra caution if you’re approaching an intersection or crosswalk.

And finally, as the seasons change, it’s best to make sure your vehicle is serviced and in good working order. A skilled mechanic should be able to check the tires, brakes, engines, transmission, headlights, and taillights. They should also check all fluid levels and refill any below the acceptable limit.

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