Car Accidents Spike During Daylight Saving Time

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, Daylight Saving Time (DST) sometimes causes a temporary spike in motor vehicle accidents. On Sunday, November 2nd, when local daylight reaches 2:00 a.m., our clocks will “fall back” one hour to 1:00 a.m. local standard time. Although the extra hour of sleep undoubtedly has a few perks, the disruption in time not only causes it to become darker earlier but can also lead to increased drowsiness, mental exhaustion, and fatigue.

What Makes Drowsy Driving So Dangerous?

Numerous studies have found that the effects of drowsiness are comparable to driving under the influence. Why? Because individuals who experience fatigue or exhaustion are often unaware of how tired they are. In 2023, for example, the NHTSA counted 633 fatalities resulting from crashes related to drowsy driving. Fatigue can crop up for plenty of different reasons, like personal stressors, a new baby, longer-than-normal work hours, and much more. When someone is exhausted, they can experience impaired performance, cognition, and health consequences; these can lead to workplace accidents and motor vehicle crashes.

The National Safety Council, or NSC, paints a clear picture of how drowsy driving is comparable to driving under the influence of alcohol. When a person drives after going more than 20 hours without sleeping, it is the equivalent of driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08%. 0.08% BAC is the legal limit in every state except Utah, which upholds a legal limit of 0.05%. Some individuals also experience what is known as “micro-sleep”, or short, unintentional, involuntary periods of inattention. In just the four or five seconds that a driver experiences micro-sleep while going at highway speed, their car can travel the full length of a football field. 

Though it can be difficult to regularly determine precisely just how pervasive and dangerous drowsy driving is in terms of the numbers, since the NHTSA relies solely on police and hospital reports for its data, this is what the agency does know:

• Estimations suggest that there are approximately 91,000 annual crashes that involve drowsy drivers.
• Drowsy driving-related crashes cause roughly 50,000 injuries every year
• Some years, reports confirm as many as 800 fatalities from crashes involving fatigued drivers.

Some recent studies suggest that the numbers may be far higher. The American Automobile Association (AAA) conducted a study on drowsy driving last year. The agency’s Foundation for Traffic Safety estimated that nearly 18% of all fatal crashes from 2017 to 2021 involved drowsy driving. That’s 30,000 fatalities in a five-year span, which is seven to ten times higher than the current reported numbers. It is clear that when it comes to drowsy driving, the issue is one that poses a significant threat to public health.

Driving Tips to Prevent Accidents

It is important to keep in mind that certain drivers face higher risks of getting into a car accident. Commercial truck drivers, workers who operate tow trucks, buses, and tractor trailers, and individuals who work more than 60 hours per week are all more likely to be involved in a collision. Driving at night also poses two risks: decreased visibility and increased drowsiness. 

To limit the chances of being involved in a car accident, the Department of Transportation offers the following tips:

• Be aware of the signs of drowsiness, like yawning, excessive blinking, drifting in and out of lanes, and/or missing an exit. If you are drowsy, immediately pull over to a safe, well-lit spot and get some fresh air or take a short nap before you get back on the road.
• Drivers should get at least seven to eight hours of sleep per night.
• Avoid alcohol and medication(s) that cause drowsiness. On their own, each of these can cause devastating consequences when a driver gets behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. Mixing the two can be even deadlier, and even more so if occurring in combination with drowsiness.
• Make sure that headlights, parking lights, turn signals, taillights, brake lights, and other interior lights are in working order.
• If possible, use the rearview mirror’s “night setting” when driving at night. This can help to prevent glare from headlights.
• Only use high beams when no other vehicles are approaching. Switch to low beams when an oncoming vehicle approaches.
• Use extra caution when driving at night, especially in areas where there may be pedestrians, motorcyclists, and bicyclists sharing the road or crossing the street.
• It is not necessary to wear sunglasses once the sun goes down. Sunglasses can impact visibility as it gets dark.
• When driving at nighttime, motorists should keep their gaze moving from side to side rather than focusing solely on the center line or on the road ahead.

If you were involved in a car accident and have questions about filing a legal claim, someone at our firm can help. To learn more, contact a representative online now. 

Philadelphia Personal Injury Attorneys at Galfand Berger, LLP, Representing Injured Victims Since 1947

Contact the Philadelphia personal injury attorneys at Galfand Berger LLP today. Call us at 800-222-USWA (8792) or fill out our online form for a free consultation. Located in Philadelphia, Bethlehem, Lancaster, and Reading, we serve clients throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including Allentown and Harrisburg.