This weekend, we will be turning the clocks back an hour for Daylight Saving Time. This change in time can be incovenient for people because of their sleep patterns and their schedules, but there is a more serious problem assocuated with Daylight Savings Time. During Daylight Saving Time an hour of afternoon sunlight is lost, which increases the probability of car accidents.
Daylight Saving Time provides an extra hour of sunlight in the morning while reducing an hour of sunlight in the afternoon. This causes problems because almost everyone is awake in the afternoon when the hour of sunlight is lost and less people are awake in the morning when the sunlight is gained. Because more people are awake in the afernoon, more people are out and about whether it be driving or walking. The darkness reduces visibilty and makes it more likely for people to be involved in car accidents.
Another factor that contributes to traffic accidents during Daylight Savings Time that abrupt time change may cause people to drive more dangerously. People may still be driving as if it were light out. People may also drive faster, and pedestrians may not be as attentive.
Please be careful as both a driver and as a pedestrian as this Daylight Saving Time approaches. Make sure you are attentive to your surrounds, obey the speed limit, use headlights and practice safe driving techniques. By practicing safe driving we can make the roadways safer for everyone.
Do you have any tips for how to adjust to Daylight Savings Time?