(COLORADO) — With Daylight Saving Time just around the corner on Sunday, March 9, experts warn that with the time change comes increased risk on the road.
According to a study by the University of Colorado, fatal car crashes in the United States spike by 6% during the workweek following the “spring forward” to daylight saving time, resulting in about 28 additional deaths each year.
The NHTSA also reports that drowsy driving contributes to over 100,000 crashes annually, with many incidents spiking after the time change due to sleep disruption and darker mornings.
As much as the time change feels inevitable, as well as the impacts to our sleep schedules, there are things you can do to minimize your risk, like adjusting your sleep schedule before and after the time change to ensure you are getting adequate sleep. NHTSA data showed elevated crash risk was associated with fewer hours of sleep in the 24 hours before a crash, with drivers who reported 4 to 5 hours of sleep increasing their risk of a crash by 4.3 times, as compared with drivers who reported 7 or more hours.
According to personal injury law firm Amanda Demanda Law Group, there are also legal and financial consequences to causing a crash by driving drowsy.
“Being tired because of the time change isn’t a valid excuse when you get into an accident,” the law firm said. If you are involved in a crash and drowsy driving was the cause, you could face liability issues and higher premiums from your insurance carrier if you cause a crash.
