Daylight Savings Time is a biannual event that some people look forward to and other people dread. Some people love the extra hour of sleep (mostly people without young children whose sleep cycles aren’t yet determined by clocks). The reality is the additional hour of sleep comes at the cost of less evening daylight. While many people worry about the impact on afternoon activities we worry about the link between car accidents and daylight savings time.
Time Magazine looked into the debate about changing the clocks with a focus on Daylight Savings Time DST and road safety. The article suggests that losing the hour of afternoon sunlight result in an increase in the number of car crashes. Time referenced a 2004 study that suggested that 170 pedestrians and 200 motorists could be saved each year by eliminating this twice annual time change. Professor Steve Calandrillo from the University of Washington is a strong advocate for a national change to DST year round. The Professor noted more people are active in the evening hours than during the morning and the vast majority of children and adults are awake and active at 5 PM while fewer are on the move at 7 AM.
When the afternoon light is lost, roadway visibility suffers. Others point to the abrupt change itself as a danger, even when we don’t lose sleep. Economist David Gerard told Time that despite the darker conditions, afternoon/evening commuters often behave as if it is still light out for a few weeks after DST ends, driving faster and being generally less attentive whether on foot or behind the wheel.
Driving.ca suggests children are at an increased risk for pedestrian crashes this time of year, particularly during the afternoon/evening commute. The Canadian automotive news site says diminishing daylight, tired drivers, and restless kids contribute to the fact that three times as many children are injured on the way home after school than are hurt on the morning trip to school. Additionally, the report cites a study by Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania that found pedestrians in general are three times more likely to be hit by a motor vehicle in the first weeks after the fall time-change than in the weeks prior. The time change and dark commutes may help explain the increase in car accidents but does not excuse them.
We represent people who are injured because of the careless and reckless acts of others. At the end of the day your case can only be settled one time and you need to know all of the facts beforehand. The reason that insurance companies have paid our clients in excess of $130,000,000.00 is that we get the facts and are not intimidated at the prospect of going to trial when insurance companies fail to offer full compensation. We help with serious injuries that require serious representation. We are the Law Offices of Guenard & Bozarth, LLP. Our attorneys have more than 60 years of experience specializing in only representing injured people.. Call GB Legal 24/7/365 at 888-809-1075 or visit www.gblegal.com We would be honored to represent you!
