Autumn brings less daylight, which results in an increase in traffic deaths. In fact, since drivers aren’t used to the decreased visibility, traffic deaths are three times more common after the sun goes down than during the daytime—both for drivers and pedestrians.
Studies suggest that it can take several days to adapt after daylight saving time ends. Although the extra hour of sleep is often celebrated, many people still feel fatigued. Whether you drive for your job or commute home from work in the evening, it is important to remember the following safety tips:
- Test your headlights, and turn them on one hour before sunset and one hour after sunrise so other drivers can see you easily.
- Do not look directly at oncoming headlights. Look toward the right side of the road, following the white line with your eyes.
- Increase your following distance by four or five seconds to give yourself more response time.
- If you have vehicle trouble, pull off the road as far to the right as possible. Set up reflector triangles near your vehicle and up to 300 feet behind it. Turn on your flashers and your dome light, and call for assistance.
