Daylight saving has led to an increase in driving hazards. However, motorists need to understand the risk of losing sleep, accident trends, and regional factors to minimize danger.
According to research, transitioning to daylight saving time in Spring increases the average number of fatal accidents by 6 percent nationwide because people lose one hour of sleep. Sleep deprivation usually contributes to delayed reaction time, unsafe judgment calls, and poor attention among drivers.
The main issue with daylight saving time is that it disrupts the chronobiological rhythms, resulting in doubts about its usefulness. Nevertheless, some states use daylight saving time. However, issues such as fatigue are evident, and they lead to the impairment of the performance and motor skills of some drivers. The danger can persist for at least a week before the body adjusts fully.
Daylight saving time was initially meant to conserve artificial energy through better utilization of natural light during the evening. Since technology has advanced rampantly, daylight saving time doesn’t seem viable anymore since the difference in energy consumption isn’t as significant. The main focus at the moment is on how the body’s natural rhythm is affected, resulting in increased instances of injuries, accidents, and health issues for at least a week or more after the time change.
Issues Associated with Daylight Saving Time Change
One-hour time changes can be termed inconsequential; however, some studies have shown that the change in time can affect a person’s overall health, especially during the first week after Spring has ended. If sleeping patterns are interrupted, the body will strive to adjust to the changes in the normal cycle.
Some people may get less sleep, whereas others may have insomnia. Amidst all this, there is the urge to operate normally even after being deprived of sleep. Other adverse effects of the time change include increased incidents of strokes, mood disorders, and heart attacks.
The Co-Relation Between Car Accidents and Daylight Saving Time
When people are tired, they may be unable to think clearly, and their response time may be slower than usual; this can be a major problem when driving. As a result, there is the risk of an increase in fatal accidents because of the transition of daylight saving time from Spring. Most accidents may occur in the morning, most likely in the westernmost part of the time zone affected by daylight saving time. Accidents may also occur during the afternoon, regardless of the longer daylight hours.
How Less Daylight Leads to Lower Road Visibility
By transitioning to standard time instead of implementing daylight savings time, most people will be forced to commute in the dark, resulting in various challenges. Reduction in natural light may compromise the peripheral vision of the driver, which means it will be hard to see the cyclists, pedestrians, and other cars on the road. Furthermore, the glare from the headlights of oncoming vehicles can temporarily blind a driver, increasing the chances of an accident. As a result, there is a need for increased caution and awareness among drivers.