ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Get ready to lose an hour of sleep. Daylight saving time begins this Sunday, meaning clocks will spring forward one hour at 2 a.m.
The change brings more daylight in the evening, but experts warn it can also cause sleep disruption, drowsy driving, and morning safety concerns.
According to AAA, the time change can impact sleep patterns, leading to increased drowsy-driving crashes in the days following the shift.
“The time change impacts daylight hours and sleep patterns, raising the risk of drowsy driving, which can contribute to a dangerous crash,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesperson for AAA.
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A 20-year study published in Current Biology found that fatal car crashes increase by 6% in the week following the switch to daylight saving time. Symptoms of drowsy driving include difficulty keeping your eyes open, drifting out of your lane, and struggling to recall the last few miles driven.
It’s not just drivers who need to be cautious. The shift means darker mornings, increasing the risk for children heading to school in low visibility. AAA urges both drivers and pedestrians to be extra cautious during morning commutes.
While some enjoy the longer daylight hours in the evening, the twice-yearly time change remains controversial. Lawmakers have pushed to make daylight saving time permanent, arguing that the back-and-forth clock changes do more harm than good.
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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been one of the leading voices for ending the time change, pointing to research on the health and safety risks.
“We see an increase in heart attacks, car accidents, and pedestrian accidents,” Rubio said during a Senate debate in 2022. “There’s strong science showing the harm that clock switching has.”
Rubio’s Sunshine Protection Act passed the Senate in 2022 but failed to move forward in the House. Now, Sen. Rick Scott has reintroduced the bill to eliminate the time change nationwide.
“This is something Americans overwhelmingly support,” Scott said. “We should lock the clock and stop the disruptions to our daily lives.”
Until lawmakers take action, Americans will continue changing their clocks twice a year.
Here are some tips to ease the transition:
- Go to bed earlier in the days leading up to the time change.
- Avoid caffeine and electronics before bedtime to improve sleep quality.
- Be extra alert on the roads, especially in the mornings.
- Use blackout curtains to adjust to the new daylight schedule.
Daylight saving time will last until Sunday, Nov. 2, when clocks will “fall back” one hour. Until then, enjoy the extra sunlight in the evening, just be sure to set your alarm an hour ahead this Sunday!
