As we get ready to change the clocks on November 6th, the daylight savings time might actually cost you more than an extra hour or lost hour of sleep. According to some research out of the University of Colorado at Boulder, there is an increase in fatal motor vehicle accidents in the days surrounding the changing of the clocks.
Drowsy driving poses a serious risk to anyone. Getting a little too tired behind the wheel could lead to a driver falling asleep can causing an accident.
The study looked at all fatal crashes across the United States and looked at the impact of extending daylight savings time in 2007. The fatal accident reporting system identified a 17% increase in traffic fatalities after the shift forward in the spring. When the clocks change, whether it is springing forward or falling back, people’s sleep cycles are interrupted and their schedules are changed. This means that they are at a greater likelihood of being drowsy on the road and could be involved in a serious accident.
Be careful out on the roads this year and avoid being involved in a critical accident that could make it difficult for you to move on with your life. If you have been involved in an accident with someone who was drowsy or distracted, you need to consult with an experienced California personal injury attorney as soon as possible.