NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — With the end of Daylight Saving Time, Kansas motorists need to prepare for related changes during their commute Monday.
"The interruption in sleep patterns, combined with the earlier dusk and darkness during the evening commute, that can become a formula for drowsy driving and fatigue related traffic crashes," said Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas. "It usually takes a few days for our bodies to adjust, to not only the very early darkness in the evenings, but much brighter mornings than we've been used to recently."
Ninety percent of drivers’ reaction time is dependent upon their vision, which is severely limited at night.
AAA recommends wearing high-quality sunglasses and adjusting the car’s sun visors as needed. Late afternoon driving also presents a similar glare problem, so drivers should take the same precautions. Use of the night setting on rearview mirrors can reduce glare from headlights approaching from the rear.
"Nationwide, drowsy driving is a factor in an average of 328,000 crashes every year," Steward said. "109,000 of those result in injuries and there are 6400 fatal crashes every year."
Symptoms of drowsy driving can include having trouble keeping eyes open, drifting from lanes or not remembering the last few miles driven.
"More than half of drivers involved in fatigue-related crashes had no symptoms before falling asleep behind the wheel," Steward said. "Be aware of that this time of year. If you are feeling really tired on a long trip, take a break every couple of hours. Just stop on the side of the road or at a rest stop or at a gas station or wherever you can be safe and take a break from the road."
Also, November and December are among the most dangerous months of the year for motor vehicle collisions with animals. A collision with a deer or other animal can put a serious dent in your vehicle, if not destroy it completely, and could result in serious injuries or fatalities. With the time change, you could cross paths with wildlife that you either leave too early or too late to encounter prior to these months.
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