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Springing Forward

John Jacobs
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Does Daylight Saving Time improves safety? Does additional daylight reduce traffic accidents?

You might think so, since driving in the daylight seems safer than driving at night. But the science says otherwise. The day after we "spring forward" and "fall back" both see an increase in fatal traffic accidents, which has been verified to be significant at about the 8% level. There is no corresponding decrease to balance it out.

Additionally several studies have shown that workplace accidents and heart attacks are both more common in the week after the time change, too. Daylight Saving Time actually causes more deaths, rather than reducing them.

These issues really come down to an increase in fatigue and a change of our biological clocks as the actual time is adjusted from what we have become accustomed to. Fatigue has always been a contributing factor to injuries throughout the year. The change in clocks can accelerate that for a brief period of time for each of us as until we get used to the change.

Here are some tips to help you deal better with the change:


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Kevin R replied the topic: #762
A very good article. Just for an example, my mother had a heart attack the following day after the time sprung forward back in 2009. I will say that stress of the time change made a difference and I really think we should leave time alone. Thank you for posting this! I gave you 5 stars!!