Risks for pedestrians around daylight savings

Many Californians are mixed about the first Sunday in November. Daylight savings can give everyone in the state an extra hour of sleep, but it also means that it gets dark early and everyone has to readjust their clocks.

What can’t be disputed is the effect the new hours have on the roads. November is already a difficult time for pedestrians to take walks outside with the colder weather and the holidays near the end of the month, but that one hour time difference after the first Sunday often leads to an increase in fatalities. It’s important for residents who enjoy being outside around this time of year to understand why they are at risk and what preventive measures they can take before going on a walk.

What should pedestrians do differently?

Plenty of people enjoy going on walks outside during the evening hours to watch the sunset and enjoy the fresh air after a long day at work. If they don’t change when they choose to walk after daylight savings happens, then you might need to put on something different for your walk. The California Office of Traffic Safety recommends pedestrians to wear bright and reflective clothing if they go out late. A flashlight can also help them see the path ahead of them and make them visible to drivers coming from the opposite direction.

It might be a good time to explore different path options as well. Bright clothing can make you more visible to drivers, but a well-lit area can help them spot you from further away. Visibility is especially important if your path doesn’t have too many sidewalks you can use.

Look out for drowsy drivers

While drowsy drivers are a threat throughout the whole year, you’ll start to see more motorists struggle to keep their eyes open after daylight savings. That extra hour of sleep on the first Sunday might feel nice, but it won’t help what drivers have to deal with for the rest of the year. Since there’s significantly less sunlight after daylight savings, more people will feel fatigued on their way home from work.

Signs of a drowsy motorist aren’t that different from a drunk or distracted driver. They may drift from their lane at points and show inconsistent speeds. If they appear to be heading in your direction, move further away from the road before they get too close.

As the amount of dangers for pedestrians dramatically increases in November, it is important to know who to contact if a loved one is hit by a reckless motorist.