Time change leads to increase in car crashes

The Monday following a time change is a dangerous one for drivers and pedestrians alike, as the number of crashes increases whether we’re springing forward or falling back.

We gained an hour when daylight time ended at 2 a.m. on Sunday, and on Monday York Region launched its pedestrian safety campaign, warning motorists and pedestrians to watch out for each other.

“Statistics indicate that pedestrians are most vulnerable in the fall, around the time that we change our clocks back to eastern standard time. As the daylight hours get shorter, pedestrians are less visible,” Kathleen Llewellyn-Thomas, the region’s transportation services commissioner, said at Yonge Street and Carrville RoadMonday morning.

Police handed out reflective keychains to pedestrians so they would be more visible to motorists.

Studies have shown accident rates go up after a time change because we experience disorientation similar to jet lag.

Even though it seems more pronounced when we lose an hour, the same thing actually happens even if you gain that additional sleep, which is what happened this past weekend.

Motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of accidental death and the third leading cause of injury-related hospitalizations in York Region, the city said. Pedestrian and cyclist collisions account for 18 per cent of all fatal collisions, and a large proportion of those fatal pedestrian crashes involve seniors.

Safety tips: Pedestrians

  • Always walk on the inside of the sidewalk, or stay as far from the curb or travelled portion of the road as possible
  • Where there are no sidewalks, always walk facing traffic in order to see oncoming vehicles
  • Refrain from wearing headphones or talking on a cell phone, which can reduce your awareness of the traffic around you
  • Wear bright, reflective clothing in low-light conditions to ensure you are visible to drivers
  • During the evening, attach a small flashing light to your clothing

Safety tips: Motorists

  • Stay alert for pedestrians and slow down on residential streets
  • Always be aware of pedestrians around your vehicle, especially when turning
  • Be patient, especially with older pedestrians, who need more time to cross the road

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