First week after clocks change brings higher accident risk, study finds
More traffic accidents occur during the first week after the clocks have changed to summer time, according to a new study. An article from the AD suggests that the likelihood of damage could rise by roughly 13 percent over the course of this week.
The clocks going forward one hour results in people being more tired and less alert.
Although it isn’t a new phenomenon, it continues to be measured and reaffirmed on an annual basis. Studies have consistently indicated that disruptions to the body’s internal clock lead to increased fatigue, which in turn results in more accidents in the following days. Previous research has reported comparable findings, such as roughly a 6 percent rise in fatal incidents.
The majority of accidents happen on the first Monday morning following the shift, when the body’s internal clock is still poorly adjusted, and sleep loss is at its peak. Mornings suddenly become darker, even though drivers have grown accustomed to longer daylight hours. This leads to reduced visibility precisely when alertness is already diminished.
Taken together, these factors make this period especially hazardous: losing 1 hour of sleep, darker mornings that limit visibility, along with reduced focus and slower response times.
This reflects a relative uptick rather than a serious crisis. Driving is still safe for most people, but the risk is nonetheless measurable and statistically elevated. It is noteworthy that when clocks move back for winter time, accident numbers tend to either drop slightly or stay steady, thanks to the additional hour of sleep people gain.
In addition to the increase in traffic accidents, previous studies have also indicated that the Monday following the time shift may see a temporary surge of roughly 24 percent in heart attacks, though this rise is brief and gradually subsides over the subsequent days.
Insurers report that this week brings not just an increase in traffic claims, but also a decline in workplace productivity caused by lapses in concentration, sometimes referred to as “cyberloafing.”
