How does Daylight Savings Time impacts our driving habits?

The idea behind daylight saving time (DST) is to make better use of daylight and conserve energy. A later sunset during the long summer days means less need for indoor lighting in the evening. The Germans were the first to implement this idea in 1916.

Do interrupted sleeping patterns and longer daylight have an impact on road safety?

There is no clear evidence directly linking the changing time zones with an increase in fatal or serious injury crashes, but academic research shows largely negative impacts on health, likely due to sleep los.

A German study found an increase in traffic fatalities in the week after the start of daylight-saving time, but no such increase in the fall.

Manitoba Public Insurance published an article in 2015, stating a 20% increase in collisions on Manitoba roadways following the daylight savings time change when compared to all other Mondays in 2014.

However, daylight savings time cannot be fully blamed for the increase. Experts say bad road conditions and adverse weather are major factors in road deaths, as are alcohol, drugs, excessive speed, and occupants not wearing seatbelts.