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Daylight savings is officially here with clocks set ahead by one hour. With the shift ahead, one hour of sleep was lost and the change in daylight hours means motorists may experience drowsy driving, according to AAA.
“Driving while drowsy can have the same effects as driving while intoxicated, including slowed reaction times, impaired judgment and vision and decreased alertness, yet many people are unaware of this danger,” said Mark J.F. Schroeder, NYS Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Commissioner and Chair of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC).
AAA Reports the signs of drowsy driving include: having trouble keeping your eyes open, drifting from your lane, and not remembering the last few miles you drove. 95% of people believe drowsy driving is either very or extremely dangerous, with 33% believing drowsy drivers risked being caught by the police, according to a 2021 traffic survey via AAA.
“While many people are looking forward to the end of winter, few realize the added dangers that can come as a result of a time change, especially when behind the wheel,” said Elizabeth Carey, Director of Public Relations, AAA Western and Central New York.
Crashes related to fatigue-related driving are often caused voluntarily not getting the sleep you need. The CDC reports that a majority of adults need a minimum of 7 hours of sleep a day, with teens needing 8 hours.
