Crashes Increase In CT When Daylight Savings Time Ends, AAA Warns

CONNECTICUT — AAA Northeast is warning motorists and pedestrians to be careful after Daylight Savings Time ends on Sunday, because crashes on Connecticut's roadways spike in the early evening hours, particularly during the 5 p.m. hour.

Last year, for example, Connecticut saw a 113 percent increase in pedestrian-related crashes between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. when comparing the four weeks after DST ends to the four weeks prior, said Fran Mayko, spokeswoman for AAA Northeast. That increase has shown such crashes more than doubled, based on an analysis of 2020 crash data from the University of Connecticut Crash Data Repository.

"Drivers and pedestrians alike must understand that with the November time change, come greater risks, and driving in the dark poses many more hazards," Mayko said in a statement. "Even though, we're all getting an extra hour of sleep, the time change affects our internal body clocks in different ways. Our concentration, attention and decision-making may be altered so it's important that drivers – and pedestrians – make adjustments during this time of year."

Below are tips to lower the risk of a crash when the time change goes into effect:

• Maintain a safe following distance to the car in front of you because decreased visibility caused by poorly lit or unlit roads affects depth perception and peripheral vision.
• Adjust your speed to compensate for low-light conditions.
• Approach crosswalks and intersections with care by checking for cyclists and pedestrians before turning.
• Yield to pedestrians, who signal their intentions to cross, whether they’re in a crosswalk as required by a new Connecticut law that went into effect October 1.
• Make sure vehicle headlights, taillights and signal lights work properly; clean windshields; replace worn wiper blades, and refill fluid reservoirs.

For pedestrians:

• Wear reflective gear at night and carry flashlights.
• Walk against traffic; but ride bicycles with traffic; and
• Cross at corners, not in mid-block.