Beginning Sunday, drivers will travel through another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind. They’ll move into a land of shadow and substance, when motor vehicle and pedestrian crashes spike in the early evening hours, says AAA Northeast.
This ‘Twilight Zone’ occurs between 5 pm and 6 pm weekdays, starting November 1 when Daylight Saving Time ends. The results could be chilling.
Through March 14, 2021, mornings will be brighter, but darkness will come earlier, making poorly lit or unlit roads risky to motorists and pedestrians, said Fran Mayko, AAA Northeast spokeswoman
“It’s November! With time changes come greater risks,” added Mayko. “So, driving in the dark poses many more hazards for drivers and pedestrians.”
To call attention to National Drowsy Driving Week (November 1 – 8), AAA Northeast analyzed 2015-19 crash data from the UConn Crash Data Repository by comparing the number of crashes in the two-week period before “fall back” to the two weeks after.
- There was a 70% increase in the number of statewide motor vehicle crashes between 5 PM – 6 PM in the two weeks after DST ended compared to the two weeks before;
- Pedestrian crashes in the 5 PM hour more than doubled during the same time period.
- More than 8,000 drowsy driving crashes occurred in the last five years – equivalent to one crash every 6 hours – where the cause was listed as ‘driver asleep/fatigue.” The true figure may be higher since AAA research shows drowsy driving crashes generally are much more frequent than police reports suggest.
“Even though we’re all getting an extra hour of sleep, the change affects our internal body clocks in different ways,” Mayko said. “Our concentration, attention and decision-making may be altered so it’s important drivers make lifestyle adjustments during this time of year.”
To lower your risk once the time change goes into effect, AAA suggests drivers:
- Understand decreased visibility affects depth perception and peripheral vision so maintain a safe following distance to the car in front of you and adjust your speed to compensate for low-light conditions.
- Approach crosswalks and intersections with care. Before turning, check for cyclists and pedestrians;
- Make sure your vehicle headlights, taillights and signal lights work properly; clean windshields; replace worn wiper blades, and refill fluid reservoirs.
For pedestrians:
- Wear reflective gear at night and carry flashlights;
- Walk against traffic; but bicycle ride with traffic; and
- Cross at corners, not in mid-block.