Motorists should not fall back into bad driving habits with the end of daylight-saving time this weekend, says AAA Northeast. While the time change brings an initial extra hour of sleep, drivers need to be focused on the road as it gets darker earlier. The dangers of drowsy driving and the challenges of driving in the dark are always present but never more so than when drivers suddenly find changing conditions.
“Drowsy driving is a significant traffic safety issue,” said Patti Artessa, Regional Director of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Northeast. “Americans ‘falling back’ by moving their clocks back by one hour may think they are gaining an extra hour of sleep, but they need to remember to monitor their sleep schedule to prevent drowsiness on the road.”
According to AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety research:
- Almost all motorists view drowsy driving as very or extremely dangerous, but 17% admitted to driving when they were so tired that they had a hard time keeping their eyes open at least once in the previous 30 days before the survey (2020 Traffic Safety Culture Index).
- Drivers who have slept for less than 5 hours have a crash risk comparable to someone driving drunk.
- Drivers who miss one to two hours of sleep can nearly double their risk for a crash.
AAA recommends that drivers:
- Should not rely on their bodies to provide warning signs for drowsiness and should instead prioritize getting at least seven hours of sleep before hitting the road.
- Travel at times of the day when they are normally awake.
- Avoid heavy foods.
- Avoid medications that cause drowsiness or other impairment.
Driving in the Dark & Headlights
“Dark conditions can make it harder to see when driving. Lack of visibility can make for unsafe driving conditions. As we adjust to the end of daylight-saving time, it’s a good time to check the illumination of your headlights,” Ms. Artessa said.
- With 50% of crashes occurring at night, drivers should check their headlights for signs of deterioration and invest in new headlights or, at a minimum, a low-cost service visit to boost the safety of driving after dark.
- Headlights can show signs of deterioration after 3 years but most commonly by year 5.
- AAA suggests drivers check their headlights for changes in appearance such as yellowing or clouding. If the bulb is difficult to see, it is time to have the lens replaced or restored as soon as possible.
- Replacement and restoration services are available at most repair shops, including AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities.
- Do-it-yourself restoration offers some savings for consumers, is relatively simple, and provides a sufficient improvement in light output.
- Make sure headlights are correctly re-aimed to maximize forward lighting performance and minimize glare to oncoming and preceding drivers.
- Compensate for reduced visibility by decreasing your speed and increasing following distance to four or more seconds behind the car in front of you.
- Older drivers should recognize that at age 60 it takes three times more light to see the roadway than it did at age 20, and if possible, plan driving times accordingly.
- Keep your eyes moving. Do not focus on the middle of the area illuminated by your headlights. Watch for sudden flashes of light at hilltops, around curves, or at intersections, because these may indicate the presence of oncoming vehicles.
- Look at the sides of objects. In the dim light, focus on the edges or outlines of objects. Your eyes can pick up images more sharply this way than by looking directly at the object.
- Avoid being blinded by oncoming high beams. If the driver of an oncoming vehicle fails to dim the lights, look down toward the right side of the road. You should be able to see the edge of the lane or the white-painted edge line and stay on course until the vehicle passes.