03/13/2026
Avoid accidents. Stay alert when you drive after the change to daylight savings time.
⏰ Did You Know the “Spring Forward” Clock Change Is Linked to More Accidents?
When we switch to Daylight Saving Time and lose one hour of sleep, the effects go beyond feeling tired. Research shows the sudden shift can lead to more accidents on the road and at work.
🚗 More Fatal Car Accidents
A 2020 study in Current Biology analyzed over 700,000 U.S. crashes and found a 6% increase in fatal car accidents in the week after the spring time change, which researchers estimate equals about 28 additional deaths each year in the United States.
🛠️ More Workplace Injuries
Research published in the Journal of Applied Psychology found that workplace injuries increase the Monday after Daylight Saving Time begins, and workers also lose about 40 minutes of sleep on average. The study also found the injuries tended to be more severe, with employees missing more workdays.
🧠 Why it happens
The one-hour clock shift disrupts our circadian rhythm (the body’s internal clock) and reduces sleep. Even small amounts of sleep loss can impair alertness, reaction time, and decision-making, especially when driving or operating equipment.
📊 One small clock change → sleep disruption → measurable safety impacts.
Sources:
• Fritz et al., Current Biology (2020) – analysis of U.S. fatal crash data
• Barnes & Wagner, Journal of Applied Psychology (2009) – workplace injuries after Daylight Saving Time
