EMMIE BOESE
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON Kan. — As clocks fall back to standard time Sunday morning, be prepared for the change in how you see the road on Monday.
"It's going to give us lighter morning commutes and the darker evening commutes," said Shawn Steward with AAA of Kansas. "Overall, it just throws people's sleep patterns off a little bit and can lead to drowsy driving. We like to remind people this time of year, just be aware how this time change is affecting you."
If your usual route is eastward in the morning, or westward in the evening, be prepared for the sun to be in a different place than it has been.
"Be prepared to drive," Steward said. "Be prepared to focus on driving. Focus on the road, not your phone. Get plenty of sleep, especially if you're taking a longer trip. Just be aware when your body is starting to get tired. Maybe stop off and grab a cup of coffee or take a little break from the road."
According to AAA, 16% to 21% of all police-reported fatal vehicle crashes likely involve drowsy driving, a factor likely underreported in government statistics.
"A lot of the new Advanced Driver Assistance Systems in newer vehicles do help you keep it in the lane," Steward said. "It will notify you when you start to head over to the lines on the side. They'll help brake in case of something coming up more quickly than you expect. Those technologies are great, but they're not a complete substitution for the driver being focused on the road."
According to AAA, drivers who have slept for less than 5 hours have a crash risk comparable to someone driving drunk.
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