Combining “Big City” Experience With “Small Town” Service
Photo of the legal professionals at Lozner & Mastropietro

Time change could boost car accident risk

On Behalf of | Mar 15, 2018 | Motor Vehicle Accidents

Drivers in New York may face increased danger on the road with the arrival of daylight savings time. When people “spring ahead” by setting their clocks an hour forward, they could be more prone to drowsy driving the next day, a study says. Since the clock moves forward one hour, it is possible for people to get less sleep than usual on the night of the change by going to bed and waking up at the same time as every other day.

People often refer to the spring time change as “losing an hour of sleep,” but for drivers on the road, any kind of sleep deprivation could have dangerous results. Drowsy drivers could be easily distracted and even more likely to doze off behind the wheel, causing serious and even deadly motor vehicle accidents. While many individuals may expect that only one hour of sleep less on one night will not have an impact on their driving performance, even a small shift in sleep patterns can have a big impact, especially for people who drive at night on the day of the time change.

A study conducted by the American Automobile Association (AAA) indicated that drowsy driving is partly to blame for 10 percent of all car accidents in the United States. Since driving while sleepy is such a prevalent problem, the researchers advised that it is important for a person to take time to ensure that he or she is well-rested before driving.

Drowsy driving is only one of the risks that drivers face on the roadways on a daily basis. Drunk and distracted drivers can pose a serious threat to the health and lives of other people on the road. Individuals who have been injured in car accidents caused by another person’s negligent driving can consult with a personal injury attorney. A lawyer can help victims of car crashes pursue compensation for their medical bills, lost wages and other damages.

Archives

Rss Feed