(Photo credit: Alvimann/morgueFile)
Many Ontario residents are likely rejoicing since we gain an extra hour this weekend. While extra time is great, there’s an unfortunate statistic that drivers and pedestrians should be aware of. Pedestrians are almost three times more likely to be hit and killed by motor vehicles during the night rush hour a few weeks after the fall change in daylight savings time, according to research done by Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.
If you’re walking or driving between 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., it’s important to stay aware of your surroundings since it takes some time to adapt to the lesser light visibility during these times. Before the time switch, there’s still some light as the sun sets, but after the time change, it’s pitch black outside.
The study looked at pedestrian fatalities between 1999 to 2005 and found that on average there were 37 more deaths in the U.S. in November at about 6 p.m. compared to October. This translates to an 186 per cent jump between the two months.
The number of deaths drops in December and there’s less danger as the months go by. In the United States, they lose an extra hour in April, where there’s a 78 per cent drop in the risk of accidents happening at 6 p.m. This means that pedestrians are 11 times more likely to be fatally hit by a motor vehicle in November compared to April. In Canada, clocks are readjusted in March.
As a pedestrian, it’s important to wear bright clothing when you’re travelling in the evening and make sure that you check both directions before crossing the road.
For drivers, it’s important to ensure that you’re not driving when you’re overly exhausted. While you may be tempted to stay awake that extra hour, it’s important that you give your body enough rest to quickly adjust your internal sleeping schedule. If possible, a short nap would help you adjust quickly, but if that isn’t an option, you might want to rely on a caffeinated beverage. Meanwhile, it’s important to practice safe driving techniques.
Motor vehicle accidents happen and accident benefits are available to anyone involved in a motor vehicle accident regardless of who caused the accident. The personal injury and accident lawyers at Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers have been dealing with all accident related issues throughout Ontario for over 45 years. We know how to get you the compensation that you deserve and get your life back in order after being in a car accident. Call us at 416-920-4242, set up a free consultation, and come speak with us.
Greg Neinstein
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