Every year, November brings us earlier sunsets as daylight savings time (DST) switches to standard time (SDT). Does this negatively affect our driving? Studies suggest that it does.
According to the Journal of Safety Research, data analyzed from 2014 to 2016 shows that the time change to SDT in the fall yielded a 6% overall automobile crash increase during the first four weeks. Freeway crashes increased by 15%.
One unique problem during the DST to SDT switch is an increase in collisions between deer and vehicles. A recent study by the Current Biology research journal suggests that deer-vehicle collisions "are 14 times more frequent 2 hours after sunset than before sunset" and that the switch to standard time in November "causes peak traffic volumes to shift from before sunset to after sunset, leading to a 16% spike in deer-vehicle collisions."
These deer collisions kill more than 30 people and nearly 37,000 deer each year.
But are deer the only issue with the switch to standard time? Not quite. A National Center for Biotechnology Information study suggests that "an extended late night prior to the change" is linked to more car accidents.
"There was...a significant increase in number of accidents on the Sunday of the fall shift from DST...The behavioral adaptation anticipating the longer day on Sunday of the shift from DST in the fall leads to an increased number of accidents suggesting an increase in late night (early Sunday morning) driving when traffic related fatalities are high possibly related to alcohol consumption and driving while sleepy."
One unique problem during the DST to SDT switch is an increase in collisions between deer and vehicles. A recent study by the Current Biology research journal suggests that deer-vehicle collisions "are 14 times more frequent 2 hours after sunset than before sunset" and that the switch to standard time in November "causes peak traffic volumes to shift from before sunset to after sunset, leading to a 16% spike in deer-vehicle collisions."
These deer collisions kill more than 30 people and nearly 37,000 deer each year.
But are deer the only issue with the switch to standard time? Not quite. A National Center for Biotechnology Information study suggests that "an extended late night prior to the change" is linked to more car accidents.
"There was...a significant increase in number of accidents on the Sunday of the fall shift from DST...The behavioral adaptation anticipating the longer day on Sunday of the shift from DST in the fall leads to an increased number of accidents suggesting an increase in late night (early Sunday morning) driving when traffic related fatalities are high possibly related to alcohol consumption and driving while sleepy."
If you've been in an automobile accident involving another driver or even an deer, call Wilkes & Mee. A Jacksonville car accident lawyer will meet with you at your home, at the hospital, or at our office.