Daylight Saving Time has ended, and people across the U.S. have turned their clocks back one hour. With the time change, AAA is warning of the dangers of increased risks on roads because of limited visibility and drowsy driving.
November 3rd through the 9th is Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, and AAA is reminding motorists to be aware of increased drowsiness due to disturbed sleep patterns and reduced visibility due to daylight changes. Drivers are also urged to make sure their eyes and prescription eyewear are ready for the darker winter months.
AAA Kansas spokesman Shawn Steward said in a press release, “While many will enjoy an extra hour of sleep this weekend, drivers may not realize the added dangers that can come as the result of a time change. This one hour shift during the fall not only creates darker driving conditions, it can also interrupt sleep patterns, potentially resulting in drowsy driving.
AAA has advice for people in coping with the time change:
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Get plenty of sleep – at least 7 hours a night
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Travel at times of the day when you are normally awake
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Avoid heavy foods
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Avoid medications that cause drowsiness or other impairment
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Schedule a break every two hours or every 100 miles.
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Travel with an alert passenger and take turns driving.
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Pull into a rest stop and take a quick catnap — at least 20 minutes and no more than 30 minutes of sleep – to help to keep you alert on the road.
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Reduce speed and increase following distances. It is more difficult to judge other vehicles’ speeds and distances at night.
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Turn on headlights to see better during dawn and dusk and to be more visible to other drivers.
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Make sure headlights, tail lights and signal lights are working properly
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Keep lights and car windows (inside and out) clean for best visibility
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Have headlights properly aimed. If not properly aimed, headlights will blind other drivers and reduce your ability to see the road.
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When following another vehicle, keep your headlights on low beams so you don’t blind the driver ahead of you.
