The backup routine we do annually this time of year comes with more than an extra hour of sleep.

The American Automobile Association warns that with the end of daylight saving time comes a greater risk of road accidents due to limited visibility and drowsiness affecting driver behavior.

In preparation for Driving Drowsiness Prevention Week, Nov. 3-9, AAA encourages drivers to be more aware of the increased likelihood of this potential due to altered sleep patterns and reduced visibility caused by changes in daylight hours.

Drivers are also being urged to make sure their eyes and prescription glasses are ready for the darker winter months.

Citing research from its Foundation for Traffic Safety, AAA said about 17.6 percent of all fatal crashes from 2017 to 2021 involved a drowsy driver. In those five years, an estimated 29,800 people died in accidents involving someone displaying that induced alert.

“While many will enjoy an extra hour of sleep … drivers may not realize the additional dangers that come with a time change,” AAA Club Alliance spokeswoman Tracy Noble said. “This one-hour shift during the fall not only creates darker driving conditions, but can also disrupt sleep patterns, which can lead to episodes of drowsy driving.”

According to AAA, the symptoms of drowsy driving can be obvious, including difficulty keeping your eyes open, changing lanes, or not remembering previous miles driven, but more than half of drivers involved in crashes are fatigue-related they showed no symptoms before falling asleep behind. wheel.

Citing its Traffic Safety Foundation’s 2020 Traffic Safety Culture Index, AAA says data shows that 95 percent of drivers identify drowsy driving as very or extremely dangerous. However, despite high rates of perceived danger and disapproval of drowsy driving, around 17% admit to being so tired that they had trouble keeping their eyes open at least once in the past month.

Research from the AAA Foundation notes that drivers who sleep less than five hours have a crash risk comparable to that of drunk drivers, while drivers who lose one or two hours of sleep nearly double their crash risk.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said there were 684 deaths nationwide in 2021 from crashes related to drowsy driving, as tired and less focused drivers are at greater risk of being distracted.

To avoid drowsy driving, AAA recommends getting at least seven hours of sleep each night, traveling at times of day when you’re normally awake, and avoiding heavy foods and medications that cause drowsiness or other disturbances.

Also, on longer trips, schedule a break every two hours or 100 miles and ride with an alert passenger. Take turns driving or pulling over and take quick naps when needed — at least 20 minutes and no more than 30 minutes of sleep — to make sure you’re alert on the road.

At night, AAA advises drivers to reduce speed and increase following distances because it is more difficult to judge the speeds and distances of other vehicles. Drivers should also use their headlights at dawn and dusk to see better and appear more visible to other drivers.

It’s also essential to make sure your headlights and taillights are working properly and are properly aligned. If not aimed correctly, headlights can blind other drivers and reduce your ability to see the road. AAA reminds drivers to keep their headlights on low beam when following another vehicle to avoid impacting the driver in front.

AAA reports that first responders, construction workers and people stranded by a vehicle breakdown on the side of the road can become victims of distracted drivers. Nearly 2,000 people died outside the vehicle in road crashes from 2017 to 2021, and nearly 1,500 — the vast majority — of those deaths occurred after dark.

“This data is extremely concerning, especially with the darkest days of the year ahead, and serves as a reminder to drivers to slow down and move over when they see first responders, tow truck drivers and others with headlights. emergency flashing on the side of the road,” AAA’s Noble said.

Pedestrians also become more vulnerable when the sun sets earlier. AAA says that in 2021, 76 percent of pedestrian collision deaths occurred when it was dark, and another 4 percent occurred at dusk or sunset.

“Pedestrians should also be aware that motorists may not always see them at night or in the morning and late afternoon as motorists contend with the glare of the sun,” Noble said. “Pedestrians should do their part by wearing bright colors and crossing at intersections or corners, which increases their visibility to drivers.”

While all of these precautions are an express way of common sense, the aforementioned statistics explain why they continue to serve as an annual reminder.