DOES ‘SPRING FORWARD’ INCREASE CAR ACCIDENTS?
Will car accidents increase in the week beginning March 8, 2020?
According to a recent University of Colorado Boulder study published in the Current Biology journal, the change to Daylight Savings Time in the spring results in a 6% to 8% increase in fatal car accidents during the following week. The relevant factors are the decrease in sleep, circadian misalignment and driving to work in the darkness are important factors.
This effect is more pronounced in the western part of the time zones.
Several states are considering abandoning the switch between Daylight Savings Time and Standard Time.