THE DARKER SIDE OF DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME: WHAT EVERY DRIVER SHOULD KNOW

Published by Bill Laubscher at March 15, 2024

Orchid Flower with a clock next to it with the words Spring Froward underneath the clock

If you have been feeling out of sorts since the recent “spring ahead” time change, you are not alone. While we enjoy the extra hour of evening light, daylight saving time can be hazardous to health and safety. Research shows a rise in fatal car accidents and serious medical events such as heart attacks during the week after moving our clocks.

Getting enough rest and driving more cautiously can help reduce the risk of a crash. However, if you or a loved one is injured, hiring an experienced car accident attorney is the best way to receive the compensation you deserve.

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WHAT IS DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME?

Daylight saving time is the practice of moving the clock ahead one hour on the second Sunday of March and setting it back one hour on the first Sunday in November. It has been used at various times in the U.S. for more than a century, most notably as an energy-saving measure during both world wars.

After WWII, it became optional for individual regions, which resulted in a confusing variation of time zones, often within the same state. To remedy this situation, the Federal Uniform Time Act of 1966 established the twice-yearly time change across all time zones in the U.S. and its possessions. Today, it is observed by every state except Hawaii and Arizona and five U.S. territories.

WHEN DID MICHIGAN IMPLEMENT DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME?

Michigan has observed daylight saving time since 1972, when voters approved its implementation after rejecting the proposal four years earlier. However, the value of daylight saving time has been a subject of controversy in many states, including Michigan.

Efforts have been made over the years to eliminate daylight saving time at the Federal and state levels. In Michigan, recently-introduced Senate Bill 770 proposes putting the permanent observance of standard time and ending daylight saving time on the November ballot. The bill currently awaits review by the Senate Committee on Government Operations.

Recommended reading: New Michigan Law Prohibits Hand-Held Cell Phones

WHY DO CAR ACCIDENTS INCREASE AFTER THE “SPRING AHEAD” TIME CHANGE?

Fatal car accidents spike about six percent after the spring time change, and sleep loss is the primary reason. While losing an hour may seem insignificant, the effects of moving the clock forward every March are more substantial than most people realize.

When the sun rises earlier and sets later, it affects circadian rhythm, the internal clock that regulates sleep and wakefulness. This disruption of the body’s natural cycle affects physical and emotional well-being.

In addition, drivers who travel at the same time each morning are unaccustomed to the abrupt change from light to darkness. This increases the risk of a crash, especially for drivers who are also fatigued from the time change.

DROWSY DRIVERS LOSE MORE THAN SLEEP

Sleep deprivation has been an ongoing problem for decades. According to a study by the National Sleep Foundation, more than half of adult drivers reported driving while feeling drowsy on a regular basis and more than one-third of the respondents admitted they fell asleep behind the wheel on at least one occasion.

While nodding off during a business meeting may cause some disapproving looks, driving without sufficient sleep can have deadly consequences.

Here are some alarming statistics about the dangers of drowsy driving based on reports from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and other research:

Losing two hours of sleep has a similar effect to drinking three beers
Tired drivers are three times more likely to be involved in a crash
Drivers who sleep four to five hours are four times likelier to have a car accident than those who sleep seven hours
Drowsy driving is a factor in at least 17 percent of fatal crashes
Approximately 30,000 people were killed in accidents involving drowsy drivers from 2017 through 2021

WHAT ARE OTHER NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME?

In addition to a spike in fatal auto accidents, moving the clock ahead has other adverse effects, mental and physical.

Here are some of the negative effects of seasonal time changes reported by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health:

Increase in heart attacks and strokes
Higher incidences of mood disturbances, including suicidal thoughts
More hospital admissions
Increased production and release of cortisol and inflammatory proteins that cause anxiety, headaches, fatigue and other adverse conditions

CONTACT OUR EXPERIENCED MICHIGAN CAR ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS TODAY

If you or a loved one is injured in a car accident, we can help. Our experienced lawyers have the skills, knowledge and resources to win the compensation you and your family deserve.

Michigan car accident law is complicated, but finding the right car accident attorney is simple.

Don’t let the legal clock run out. Start your case today by clicking on the link below or calling 1-800-CALL-SAM for a free, no-obligation consultation with a member of our legal team.

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