CONNECTICUT, USA — The clocks in Connecticut will officially change at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3, as Daylight Saving Time ends.
The American Automobile Association warns that with change comes greater risks on the roadways due to limited visibility and drowsiness impacting drivers.
In preparation for Drowsy Driving Prevention Week from Nov. 3 – 9, AAA encourages residents to be more aware of increased drowsiness due to altered sleep patterns and reduced visibility caused by the daylight changes. Drivers are also urged to make sure their eyes and prescription eyewear are ready for the darker winter months.
Dangers of driving drowsy
Citing research from its Foundation for Traffic Safety, AAA said an estimated 17.6% of all fatal crashes between 2017 and 2021 included a drowsy driver. Over those five years, an estimated 29,834 people died in crashes that involved drowsy drivers.
“While many will enjoy an extra hour of sleep this weekend, drivers may not realize the added dangers that come as the result of a time change,” AAA Club Alliance Spokesperson Tracy Noble said. “This one-hour shift during the fall not only creates darker driving conditions, it can also interrupt sleep patterns, potentially resulting in drowsy driving episodes.”
According to AAA, symptoms of drowsy driving can include difficulty keeping your eyes open, drifting from lane to lane or not remembering the previous miles driven. That said, over half of drivers involved in fatigue-related crashes experienced no symptoms before falling asleep behind the wheel.
Citing its Foundation for Traffic Safety’s 2020 Traffic Safety Culture Index, AAA says data shows that 95% of motorists identify drowsy driving as very or extremely dangerous. However, despite high rates of perceived danger and disapproval of drowsy driving, around 17% of drivers admit to having been so tired that they had a hard time keeping their eyes open at least once in the past month.
Research from the AAA Foundation notes that drivers who have slept for less than five hours have a crash risk comparable to that of drunk drivers, while drivers who miss one to two hours of sleep nearly double their risk of crashing.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that there were 684 deaths nationwide from drowsy-driving-related crashes in 2021 because tired drivers are not as focused and are at a higher risk of being distracted.
Tips to avoid drowsy driving
To avoid driving drowsily, AAA said to get at least seven hours of sleep each night, travel at times of the day when you are normally awake, avoid heavy foods and avoid medications that cause drowsiness or other impairment.
Also, on longer trips, schedule a break very two hours or 100 miles, travel with an alert passenger and take turns driving, pull into a rest stop and take a quick cat nap when necessary – at least 20 minutes and no more than 30 minutes of sleep – to ensure you are alert on the road.
Nighttime driving
At night, AAA said drivers should reduce speed and increase following distances because it is harder to judge other vehicles’ speeds and distances at night. Drivers should also use headlights at dawn and dusk to see better and appear more visible to other drivers.
When it comes to headlights and taillights, it is critical to make sure they work properly and are properly aimed. If not aimed correctly, headlights can blind other drivers and reduce your own ability to see the road. AAA reminds drivers to keep your headlights on low beams when following another vehicle so that you don’t blind the driver ahead of you.
AAA reports that first responders, construction workers and people stranded by a vehicle breakdown on the side of the road are vulnerable to drivers who are not paying attention. Nearly 2,000 people were killed outside of the vehicle in roadside crashes from 2017 to 2021, and close to 1,500 (over 75%) of those deaths occurred after dark.
“This data is extremely troubling, especially with the darkest days of the year ahead, and serves as a reminder for drivers to Slow Down and Move Over when they see first responders, tow truck drivers and others with emergency lights flashing at the roadside,” Noble said.
Pedestrians also become more vulnerable when the sun sets earlier. AAA says that in 2021, 76% of pedestrians were killed in collisions that occurred when it was dark, and another 4% occurred during dusk or sundown.
“Pedestrians should also be mindful that motorists may not always see them at night or in the morning and late afternoon as drivers fight sun glare,” Noble said. “Pedestrians need to do their part by wearing bright colors and crossing at intersections or corners, which increases their visibility to motorists.”
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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