[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.kornbluthginsberg.com\/blog\/daylight-saving-time-safety-tips-visibility-and-car-accidents-risks\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.kornbluthginsberg.com\/blog\/daylight-saving-time-safety-tips-visibility-and-car-accidents-risks\/","headline":"Daylight Saving Time Safety Tips: Visibility and Car Accidents Risks","name":"Daylight Saving Time Safety Tips: Visibility and Car Accidents Risks","description":"The twice-annual time changes at the beginning and end of daylight saving time require us to adjust to different morning and evening lighting conditions. The difficulty of adjusting can be especially apparent for people who drive to work and have to adapt to more or less daylight than they\u2019re used to. But do more car […]","datePublished":"2026-11-11","dateModified":"2026-11-11","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.kornbluthginsberg.com\/blog\/author\/kevin-ginsberg\/#Person","name":"Kevin Ginsberg","url":"https:\/\/www.kornbluthginsberg.com\/blog\/author\/kevin-ginsberg\/","identifier":32,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8a09736a672ec7d4459dedd2effd22a7073fba0d602fab96d464b650f774a6f3?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8a09736a672ec7d4459dedd2effd22a7073fba0d602fab96d464b650f774a6f3?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Kornbluth Ginsberg Law Group, P.A.","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.kornbluthginsberg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/logo-footer.svg","url":"https:\/\/www.kornbluthginsberg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/logo-footer.svg","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.kornbluthginsberg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/daylight-saving-time-safety-tips-for-drivers.png","url":"https:\/\/www.kornbluthginsberg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/daylight-saving-time-safety-tips-for-drivers.png","height":900,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/www.kornbluthginsberg.com\/blog\/daylight-saving-time-safety-tips-visibility-and-car-accidents-risks\/","about":["Car Accidents"],"wordCount":567,"articleBody":"The twice-annual time changes at the beginning and end of daylight saving time require us to adjust to different morning and evening lighting conditions.The difficulty of adjusting can be especially apparent for people who drive to work and have to adapt to more or less daylight than they\u2019re used to.But do more car accidents happen during daylight saving time? Here\u2019s what the research suggests \u2013 and how North Carolina drivers can adjust.Does Daylight Saving Time Increase Car Accidents?Daylight saving time\u2019s effects on traffic safety depend on the season, the time of day, and the type of road user.Researchers affiliated with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) examined U.S. fatal crash data from 2010 through 2019 during the five weeks before and after each time change. They found that fatal crashes involving motor vehicle occupants increased by about 12 percent after the spring change and decreased by roughly 7 percent after the fall change.Pedestrians and bicyclists showed the opposite pattern related to seasonal clock changes. Fatal crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists increased by 13 percent after the fall change and decreased by 24 percent after the spring change.The researchers concluded that changing light conditions helped explain much of the change in pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities, while other factors may contribute to changes involving vehicle occupants.How Can Reduced Visibility Contribute to Daylight Saving Time Car Accidents?Daylight saving time changes can affect driving in more than one way. After the fall change, when daylight saving time ends, earlier sunsets can cause many evening commuters to suddenly find themselves driving in darkness. That can make pedestrians, bicyclists, road hazards, and other vehicles harder to see. Sunrise and low-angle glare can also reduce visibility during morning trips.The time change also tends to disrupt many people\u2019s typical sleep patterns. Even losing a small amount of sleep can affect the body’s internal clock, leaving drivers tired or less alert. In turn, this sluggishness increases the risk of slower reaction times and makes it harder to notice changing traffic conditions in time to react.When fatigue from disrupted sleep patterns and poor visibility occur together, crash risks may increase.Daylight Saving Time Safety Tips for North Carolina DriversDrivers can take a few simple precautions when adjusting to changing daylight and sleep schedules to help lower their risk of daylight saving time car accidents:Slow down and stay alert in low light and give yourself more time to spot pedestrians, cyclists, and roadway hazards.Turn on your headlights before visibility becomes poor.Keep your windshield clean and use your sun visor when needed to prevent glare.Leave extra following distance to give yourself additional reaction time.Avoid driving while drowsy, and if you feel too tired to focus, delay your trip when possible.Limit your distractions to keep your attention on changing traffic and lighting conditions.Contact a North Carolina Car Accident Lawyer After a CrashDaylight saving time motor vehicle accidents can cause severe injuries and financial strain. If you got hurt in a car accident, turn to Kornbluth Ginsberg Law Group, P.A., for help.With 100 years of combined experience and offices in Durham and Sanford, our team is here to fight for the compensation and accountability you deserve.Contact us today to arrange a free consultation with a North Carolina car accident lawyer.\t\t\tNeed Help?\t\t\t\t\tCall Now\t\t\t\t\t\t\t919-401-4100\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSchedule a Consultation\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.kornbluthginsberg.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Daylight Saving Time Safety Tips: Visibility and Car Accidents Risks","item":"https:\/\/www.kornbluthginsberg.com\/blog\/daylight-saving-time-safety-tips-visibility-and-car-accidents-risks\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]