There is always a risk of an accident occurring when driving a vehicle. While most people know that a large number of accidents happen during hazardous weather situations, there are plenty of other factors affect the likelihood of a crash. The changes during daylight savings time cause a surprisingly high amount of auto accidents.
By knowing what the dangers of driving during daylight savings are, you’re less likely to get into an accident. Most people who drive every day have confidence in their abilities and operate on autopilot. When there are changes in the time, weather, and light patterns, it forces drivers to pay extra attention to what they’re doing. Carelessness while operating a vehicle may lead to a devastating injury.
Feeling of Grogginess
One of the main reasons why accidents are more likely to occur during daylights savings is that individuals feel groggier when driving. While it is only a one-hour difference, this small change means that most people have to be somewhere earlier than usual. Typically, it can take several days for our bodies to adjust to this change fully. A tired and groggy driver may not see something happening on the road and end up crashing. There are cases where the operator of the vehicle fell asleep or just wasn’t able to react quickly enough to another car, ending in a collision.
More Nighttime Driving
When the time shifts during daylight savings in the fall, we end up pushing our clocks back one hour. For many people, this ends up making a big difference in the outdoor conditions for the drive home from work. As opposed to having a bright sky and favorable driving conditions on your regular evening drive, it suddenly is very dark. Changes in lighting can be a very sharp transition and make it much harder to drive. It’s an even more difficult transition for the elderly, and people that otherwise have vision challenges.
Staying Safe While Driving All Year
Even if you feel confident on the road, you need to make sure that you are paying close attention when you are driving after daylight savings. While you may be optimistic about your driving abilities, other people on the road will be suffering from these symptoms. By traveling more carefully, you could react faster and avoid an accident.
If you are involved in an accident around daylight savings time, or any other time of the year, you should make sure that your rights are represented. No matter how minor an accident might seem, speaking with a qualified car accident attorney could be a great option. Your lawyer will be able to make sure that you are treated fairly by the other party in the accident and the insurance companies.
E. Orum Young Law Offices has over 35 years of law experience. Our team of attorneys is passionate about ensuring the protection and safety of Northeast Louisiana drivers. Contact our office at (318) 303-4194 for a free case evaluation. Our Trial Guarantee ensures that we will take your case to trial.