Automobile Accident Rise During Daylight Saving

Susy Owen

Attorney

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For many, the news that daylight saving time would begin at 2:00 a.m. PST on Saturday, March 10 came as a surprise. People were expecting the usual change on the first Sunday in April. The change came as a result of a little known provision of the federal Energy Policy Act of 2005, which extended daylight saving time by four weeks. Additionally, clocks will turn back an hour on November 4 instead of the usual change, which normally occurs on the last Sunday in October. Congress will be taking notice of the change in the use of energy consumption, if any.

In addition to the adjustments people will need to make, including changes to computers and the like, there is the issue of increased automobile accidents. A former Harvard Medical School Professor, Doctor Moore, cited four studies that showed that due to the decreased light in the early morning hours there will most likely be an increase in automobile accidents during the week following daylight saving time. Needless to say, the evening commute will become a little safer. Be careful out there, allow extra time to get where you have to go, particularly in the morning hours, and expect the unexpected.