Pedestrian accidents are still a huge problem in the U.S. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”), a pedestrian is killed every two hours and injured every 10 minutes in the and pedestrians are one of the few roadway users that have actually seen an increase in fatal collisions in the last few years.
How Does Daylight Saving Time Affect Pedestrian Safety?
Almost all experts agree that visibility (or lack thereof) is the main cause of motor vehicles striking persons traveling on foot on our nation’s streets and roadways. We all know that turning the clocks back an hour combined with the shorter days in the fall and winter months puts us all getting home from school and work “in the dark” on many occasions.
Studies have been conducted that show that one side effect of this is a spike in the number of pedestrian accidents during the evening hours following daylight saving time (“DST”). In fact, a law professor at the University of Washington recently conducted studies of DST policies and their effect on motor vehicle accidents and concluded that it would be better to have sunlight at 5:00 p.m. than 7:00 a.m. as most people are active at 5:00 p.m. but, many more are asleep at 7:00 a.m.
Other experts disagree. They claim that having daylight in the early morning hours when children are going to school is more beneficial to public safety. The statistics could be argued to favor studies such as the one cited above indicating a greater danger in the late afternoon and early evening hours. According to the NHTSA, statistics on children being injured or killed in pedestrian accidents are alarming:
- One-Fifth of child traffic fatalities involved pedestrians under the age of 12
- Thirty Five Percent of child traffic fatalities occurred between 6:00 p.m. and 9 p.m. and an additional 26% occurred between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Therefore, having less daylight hours in the afternoon and evening time frame seems to be more of a danger, especially for child pedestrians who comprise a large percentage of pedestrian-mishaps ending in injury or death.
How Can We Prevent Persons Being Injured or Killed While Walking During DST?
As the daylight hours run short and darkness falls sooner, both drivers and persons traveling on foot should use extra caution to prevent these incidents.
Tips for Pedestrians:
- Be Predictable: Following the rules of the road and obeying traffic signals is the best way to prevent being hit by a car. Walk on sidewalks wherever possible and walk as far from moving vehicles as possible when a sidewalk is not available. Cross at designated crosswalks and with the walk signal.
- Stay Alert: Be aware of your surroundings at all times including the locations and directions of all vehicular traffic. Don’t get distracted by headphones, cell phones, or other electronic devices!
- Be Conspicuous: Wearing brightly colored clothes or having reflectors or reflective tape on backpacks, shoes or apparel is a good way to be seen in darker conditions. Carrying a flashlight is also a good idea. Try to cross streets only in well-lit areas if an intersection or crosswalk is not available. Never assume that a driver sees you! Try to make eye contact before stepping in front of a car.
For Operators of Motor Vehicles:
- Be More Cautious In Darker Conditions: Slow down in areas where you know there are a lot of pedestrians using the roadways. Slow down when approaching intersections and use extra caution to look for people in and around crosswalks before making any turns.
- Yield the Right of Way to Pedestrians: Allow persons walking across roadways to pass and stop a reasonable distance prior to crosswalks to give warning to other drivers that a pedestrian is crossing the street. Never pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk.
Conclusion
It would appear that daylight savings time is here to stay and most states in the U.S. observe setting the clocks back an hour in the fall. This leads to darker roadway conditions earlier in the day. We all need to keep this in mind and use extra caution whether we are traversing a street on foot or in a motor vehicle!
Author Bio: Steven Sweat has been a personal injury attorney in Los Angeles, CA for two decades and has extensive experience prosecuting claims related to pedestrians injured or killed in motor vehicle collisions. He is the principal of the accident law firm, Steven M. Sweat, APC and is a regular contributor to many blogs related to personal injury law.
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