Time Change Increases Risk Of Car Accidents In Harrisburg

As the seasons change, it is getting darker earlier. Unfortunately, setting our clocks back an hour earlier in observance of yearly time changes will mean even less daylight. This can have a major impact on people’s overall mood, as well as their driving abilities. In the weeks after a time change, car accidents in Harrisburg have a tendency to climb. Our Harrisburg car accident lawyer explains more about the risks and how to protect yourself.

How Time Changes Make Harrisburg Car Accidents More Likely To Happen

Fall time changes in 2023 go into effect at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 5. This is when we ‘fall back’ an hour, effectively ending Daylight Savings Time for the year. While most people appreciate the extra hour of sleep (as opposed to spring time changes, when we lose an hour), it is important to be aware of the impact it can have on your overall health.

The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) warns that any variation in our sleep schedule has the potential to throw off the body’s circadian rhythms. This can cause potentially serious symptoms, including:

• Insomnia;
• Feeling lethargic and excessively fatigued;
• Disordered eating;
• High blood pressure;
• Increased anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders.

These can make heart attacks, strokes, and other medical emergencies more likely to happen in the aftermath of a time change. It also increases the risk of dangerous and potentially deadly car accidents in Harrisburg.

Raising Awareness Of The Risks

Fall time changes can wreak havoc with drivers on the road. Vision impacts are common, as motorists get used to driving more frequently at night. Glare from headlights and not seeing traffic signs or markings on the road increases crash risk. Another major concern is the increased risk of drowsy driving.

Each year during the fall time change, the NSF sponsors National Drowsy Driving Prevention Week. It calls attention to the serious impacts even being slightly off in your sleep schedule can have on your driving abilities. Drowsy driving mimics the same types of effects as driving under the influence, slowing reflexes, reducing reaction times, and dramatically increasing the likelihood of a crash. To protect yourself, follow these tips:

• Realize your body needs time to adjust to fall time changes;
• Make getting at least eight hours of sleep a top priority;
• If you are driving and feel excessively tired, pull over and take a short nap;
• Keep your distance from other motorists and be alert for sudden stops, swerving, or other unexpected behaviors.

Our Harrisburg Car Accident Lawyer Helps You Get Compensation

You may be entitled to file a claim for car accident injuries in Harrisburg that happen due to drowsy driving or other dangerous behaviors. When other motorists are at fault, Ira H. Weinstock, P.C. fights to get you the maximum compensation. To find out how we can help, call or contact our Harrisburg car accident lawyer online and request a consultation today.

Sources:

sleepfoundation.org/circadian-rhythm/daylight-saving-time#:~:text=These%20issues%20include%20upticks%20in,due%20to%20spring%20time%20changes

thensf.org/drowsy-driving-prevention/