Shorter Daylight Hours Increase Risk to Pedestrians

Recently we set our clocks back one hour, giving us an extra hour of daylight in the morning, but making the early evening hours for pedestrians the most dangerous time of the year.

With the end of Daylight Savings Time, there’s more darkness around the rush hour commute, when traffic is at a peak. Many folks are making their way home from a long day of work. Drivers aren’t used to the decreased visibility – nor are pedestrians.

People walking during the evening rush hour are nearly three times more likely to be killed by cars in the week following the time change, according to a study by Carnegie Mellon University.

The National Road Safety Foundation (NRSF) has done studies that proved auto accidents increase after clocks are turned back one hour. Besides the lack of visibility, the NRSF found that commuting in the dark can also make drivers drowsier than usual. According to some health studies, changes in waking time coupled with the earlier onset of darkness throws off our internal clocks.

Tips for staying safe

• Whether you’re behind the wheel or on foot, obey traffic signs and signals. Pedestrians should cross only at crosswalks and only with the signal if the crosswalk has one.
• Crosswalks exist at all corners, even if they’re not painted. Once a pedestrian has indicated an intent to cross (stepped into the crosswalk) you’re required to stop. Remain stopped until the pedestrian has passed the centerline (separating lanes traveling in opposite directions). For one-way streets, the rule applies to the entire width of the road.
• For their part, pedestrians need to obey all walk signals and allow cars reasonable time to stop before stepping out into an intersection.

Drivers also should keep these safety tips in mind:

• Resist the urge to “do a good deed” by stopping and waving on pedestrians mid-block or for whom the crossing signal hasn’t yet changed. Drivers behind you won’t be expecting you to stop, and oncoming drivers won’t anticipate a pedestrian suddenly emerging on their side of the road.
• Stop well in front of crosswalks. You’ll help other drivers realize a pedestrian is crossing.
• Don’t overtake a stopped vehicle. Chances are, it’s stopped for a pedestrian.
• Slow down in dark or wet conditions, particularly around schools.

Pedestrians should keep these safety tips in mind:

• Turn down earbuds, put your phone away and walk with your head up, aware of traffic around you.
• Make sure traffic has stopped before you enter a crosswalk, even though the signal has changed.
• Beware of cars making right turns. Drivers looking left for traffic may not notice that you’ve entered the crosswalk on their right.
• Dress in light colors and put a reflector or flasher on your backpack. Even though it may not be fashionable, consider wearing a headlamp.
• Whenever possible, use routes with sidewalks. If none are available, walk facing traffic and stay alert for distracted drivers.

Source: Progressive Insurance

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