With daylight saving time starting Sunday, AAA is warning drivers to be extra careful on the roads.
The clocks spring ahead one hour at 2 a.m. Sunday. The day after is notoriously tough on commuters. And, yes, there is an uptick in heart attacks on the first Monday of daylight savings time.
According to a 2014 study, Mondays are already the worst – for heart attacks, at least – in part due to stress factors associated with returning to work. But the loss of the extra hour of sleep increased the heart attack rate by 25 percent on the Monday after daylight savings time.
But heart attacks aren’t the worst or most dangerous thing you’ll face on Monday morning – grumpy, groggy, unprepared drivers are.
According to AAA, the changing sunrise and sunset times each day can mean reduced visibility in the morning, and more people out at night. With a rising annual number of pedestrian deaths on America’s roads, AAA says drivers should take extra precautions.
“Motorists should drive slower and be extra alert, especially in neighborhoods and school zones because more pedestrians, joggers and bicyclists will be enjoying the outdoors on or near streets in the longer evening daylight hours,” according to a AAA release.
In 2017, nearly 6,000 pedestrians were killed nationwide, representing a 9 percent increase from the previous year and a 25-year high, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Pedestrian deaths from traffic accidents have been increasing annually in North Carolina. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, 77 pedestrians were killed statewide in 2015. The death rate increased by nearly 25 percent in a year: 96 were killed in 2016. Final data is still being processed, but in October fatalities were apparently on course to rise again in 2017.
Parents should also take the time to teach their children to be careful when playing outside and watch for motorists.
In the morning, drivers should take steps to address reduced visibility. According to the AAA, drivers may be caught off guard by finding the sun in a different location. Additionally, in rural or semi-rural areas, animals – including large mammals like deer – may not have adapted to the hour difference in traffic patterns.
Here is a list of tips from AAA:
- See and be seen — drivers need to see you to avoid you
- Pay attention — put down your cell phone while walking
- Make eye contact with drivers when crossing streets
- Wear bright colors or reflective clothing at dusk and at night
- Carry a flashlight when walking or walking pets after dark
- Walk on the sidewalk; if there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic
- Parents should teach and reinforce children’s pedestrian safety habits
- Drivers should slow down and watch for children and families in neighborhoods and along school bus routes, at intersections and when backing out of driveways
- Always yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk
- When approaching a crosswalk, reduce speed and be prepared to stop
- When stopped at a crosswalk, allow enough room between your vehicle and the crosswalk so other drivers can see the pedestrians you have stopped for
- Teen drivers should exercise extra caution
