With the clocks moving back one hour due to the end of Daylight Savings Time, many people were excited to get an extra hour of sleep on Sunday. But that also means that daylight comes earlier and it gets dark outside earlier. While these changes occur twice a year, they can be disruptive to your sleep cycle and your safety on the road in a few different ways.
In late fall and early winter, the sun sets early in Nashville. If you get off work around 5 p.m., there’s a good chance it will be completely dark when you head home. Driving after dark is always more dangerous than driving when it’s light outside, so be extra cautious and be sure that all of your lights—headlights, taillights, brake lights, and signals—work.
Being well-rested and alert is up there with driving sober and distraction-free when it comes to being safe behind the wheel. And while rolling the clocks back one hour can give you an initial increase in sleep, it can result in earlier wakeups due to earlier sunrises. If you’re sleep-deprived due to those early wakeups, go to bed earlier to make up for the change.
The shortest day of the year is on Dec. 21, which is the winter solstice. As we approach that day, the amount of daylight we get decreases. And the less daylight there is, the more time we spend driving in the dark. In addition, this time of year means more holiday parties and gatherings, and they often involve alcohol and an increased potential of drunk drivers.
Rolling the clocks forward and backward can make Middle Tennessee’s roads more dangerous, but ultimately, drivers are still in control of their actions. If you get hurt by a negligent driver, the Nashville car accident lawyers at Ponce Law are here to help. Contact us today for a free consultation.
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