Fall Back Sunday: Daylight Saving Time 2019 Ends In Maryland

MARYLAND — Kids will get on the school bus in more daylight, but there won't be as much time after school or work before it's dark. Ready or not, Daylight Saving Time ends on Nov. 3 in Maryland. The time change officially takes place at 2 a.m. Sunday, but you don’t necessarily have to move the big hand on your clock behind an hour. The change is automatic for most smartphones, computers, tablets and other digital devices.

If you’re still using an analog alarm clock, you’ll most likely want to move it back before you go to sleep on Saturday, or when you wake up the next morning.

On Sunday, sunrise will be at 6:36 a.m. in the Baltimore region, while sunset will arrive at 5:03 p.m.

Not every state follows Daylight Saving Time. Most of Arizona and Hawaii, along with some U.S. territories, adhere to standard time all year long, according to the Farmers’ Almanac.

Until the days begin lengthening again after the Winter Solstice — that's Saturday, Dec. 21, this year — the loss of an hour of daylight means many Americans in the Eastern and Central Standard Time zones will be leaving their workplaces around sunset.

Side effects of setting clocks back one hour include disrupting your body’s internal clock and disturbing the sleep/wake cycle and circadian rhythm, says AAA Mid-Atlantic. As a result, drivers must be prepared for an increased chance of drowsy driving and being on the road longer in the dark.

“The fall and winter months bring less daylight and darker commuting hours, which can lead to more crashes between cars and pedestrians or bicyclists,” warns the fall 2019 Street Smart Program. It also says: “Fewer daylight hours spell danger for pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers.”

AAA Mid-Atlantic Tips for Drivers

• Slow down.
• Turn on your headlights to become more visible during early morning and evening hours.
• Keep vehicle headlights and windows (inside and out) clean.
• Do not use high beams when other cars or pedestrians are around.
• Yield the right of way to pedestrians in crosswalks and do not pass vehicles stopped at crosswalks.

Deer have their clocks altered in a different way this time of year. In general, deer are most active between dusk and 11 p.m., and they're especially frisky from October through November. It's prime breeding season and they run about more wildly than usual, increasing the chances of collisions with cars and trucks.

Related:

Maryland Car Vs Deer Crashes Jump As Mating Season Begins

So slow down, know that if you see one deer more are likely to follow, pay attention to deer crossing signs and use your high beams to increase your chances of spotting deer on the road. Brake if you can, but don't swerve, because that could cause a more serious accident.

Depending on where you live, your risk of hitting a deer may be greater than in other parts of the country. Drivers in Maryland have a 1 in 104 chance of hitting a deer this year. That's a higher risk than the national average of one in 116, according to State Farm Insurance.

Brief History of Daylight Saving Time

Ben Franklin is credited by many for being the first person to propose the concept of Daylight Saving Time centuries before it was implemented. The more modern variation of the practice, though, reportedly comes from an entomologist from New Zealand named George Hudson.

In 1895, Hudson proposed a two-hour time shift so he’d have additional daylight to go bug hunting in the summer, according to National Geographic.

The practice of Daylight Saving Time has been used sporadically in the United States since World War I. However, it took until 1966 for Congress to establish the Uniform Time Act, signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson and federally declaring Daylight Saving Time to begin on the last Sunday of April and end on the last Sunday of October.

The Dangers of Time Change

Longer nights mean more potential for drowsy driving.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration research shows drowsy-driving crashes most frequently occur between midnight and 6 a.m., or in the late-afternoon.

The evening rush hour is already a dangerous time because the roads are crowded and drivers are eager to get home. With the dusk coming an hour earlier, be extra patient, stay in your lane and keep an eye out for drivers who are darting in and out of lanes.