AAA Oklahoma, March 6, 2014 – Daylight Saving Time officially begins at 2:00 a.m. this Sunday, March 9, losing an hour of daylight in the morning in exchange for an extra hour of daylight in the evening.
However, this Monday morning many drivers will not be fully alert as they travel to work and school in the dark. In Oklahoma, the sun will rise at about 7:45 a.m. this Monday and will not set until about 7:30 p.m.
“A change in time can affect people physically and drivers can be more tired than they realize,” said Chuck Mai, spokesman for AAA Oklahoma.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that drowsy driving causes more than 100,000 crashes a year.
“Motorists need to prepare in advance for the time change by getting a good night’s sleep on Sunday.”
Slow down, pay attention and eliminate all distractions, and watch out for pedestrians when backing up in parking lots or out of driveways.
It’s also a good idea to turn on your headlights to make yourself more visible during early morning and evening hours.