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It's Daylight Savings Time and drivers should be extra careful of the effects it has on the body. (Photo Joe Fries)
By Holly Miyasaki
At 2 a.m. Oct. 30, Daylight Saving Time comes to an end. Setting clocks back one hour means most commuters will be heading home in the dark when it’s harder to see pedestrians and cyclists sharing the road. To help prevent crashes and injuries, the British Columbia Automobile Association (BCAA) urges drivers to revisit some seasonal road sense.
“More and more research is showing any time the body has to go through a time change, whether it’s springing forward or falling back, it affects your co-ordination and you begin to get drowsier at the end of the day,” says Leanna Durant, BCAA traffic safety media relations officer.
According to ICBC’s website, the time change can have a significant effect on people’s sleep patterns resulting in a disruption to their circadian rhythms or biological clock.
They also report that crash statistics illustrate a higher driving risk the first work day after Daylight Savings ends. According to the five year average (2004-2008), on the Monday following the fall time change there were 900 crash incidents, compared to 700 incidents the Monday before the time change.
According to the five-year average, the first Monday after the fall time change saw a 29 per cent increase in crash incidents, and 52 per cent increase in casualties, compared to the Monday before the time change (2004-2008). The average cost for crash incidents following the fall time change (2004-2008) was $6.5 million.
Some tips for drivers from BCAA and ICBC:
- Change windshield wiper blades before their effectiveness is reduced. No matter how carefully one drives, it’s impossible to avoid crashes if you can’t clearly see the road.
- Watch out for slippery leaves. Just as treacherous as patches of ice, fallen leaves retain large amounts of water and can create a slippery surface. Drive slowly through them and avoid hard or panic braking.
- Check your vehicle’s air circulation system is functioning properly to quickly defrost or defog windows. Keep a combination snow brush/squeegee/scraper handy to ensure windows are free of dew and frost before setting out.Slow down when it’s raining. When roads are slick with water, vehicles are susceptible to hydroplaning and take longer to stop.
- Use extra caution when driving on the first day of rain after a prolonged dry spell because oil tends to rise to the surface, making for extra slippery conditions.
- Be alert. Reduced light conditions can make it more difficult to see pedestrians, cyclists and other road users. Drivers, pedestrian and cyclists need to be especially vigilant.
- Light the way. Use your headlights at all times to ensure you are visible to pedestrians and other vehicles. Make sure your headlights are clean (splattered mud can cloud them) and that all bulbs (both high and low beam) are working properly.
- Get some rest. Try to get to bed earlier — and to help yourself to fall asleep faster, exercise during the day, have a hot bath or shower before going to bed and treat yourself to a book and a warm glass of milk.
- Plan ahead. Plan to take more time driving to and from work next week. Try to get in the habit of listening to traffic updates or checking drivebc.ca before heading out.
- Slow down and keep your distance. The roads will be busy, and excessive speed is the number one cause of crashes. Remember it takes longer to stop on wet roads or on roads covered with leaves or mud.
With a little caution, the safety of all users of the road can be enhanced during the change in seasons.
Tags: BCAA, daylight savings
