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On November 4^th, Floridians turned the clocks back one hour. This one hour makes a difference in driving conditions and causes more accidents. Roadways look lighter in the morning, but the earlier nighttime darkness leads to an increase in vehicle accidents.

U.S. News & World Report said studies suggest there is a cost in lives when clocks are changed. Citing the University of Colorado Boulder 2014 study, the article said there was an increase in fatal automobile collisions during the six days following a shift in time. Austin C. Smith, the author of the study, contends that there were 302 traffic fatalities attributable to daylight savings time over a 10-year sample period which was a 6.3 percent increase.

Researchers generally believe that people feel more tired for a few days following a time change as their bodies adjust to a change in sleep cycles.

The hour of daylight we lose in the evening means that there are more drivers commuting after dark. Nighttime driving is challenging. Not only is there headlight glare from on-coming vehicles, but other visual factors occur, such as color recognition, depth perception, peripheral vision and general visibility. Older drivers also have a problem as their night vision deteriorates. Studies have shown that a 50-year-old driver requires double the amount of light to be able to see as well as a 30-year-old driver.

In September 2018, Popular Mechanics reported in “Own the Night: 10 Tips for Driving after Dark” that drivers should

1. Aim Your Lights – Even new cars sometimes have uneven lights or lights that are pointed lower than necessary. Have the lights adjusted.
2. Dim the Instrument Panel and Dashboard Lights – Dimming dash lights can remove reflections on the windshield and allow your eyes to better adjust to the darkness ahead, improving nighttime visibility. 
3. Don’t Wear the Wrong Glasses – Glasses, whether they are prescription or not, add another reflective surface between the driver’s eyes and the road. Choosing the correct glasses to wear is crucial to improved nighttime visibility. The best options are prescription lenses with anti-reflective coating.
4. Become a Retina Spotter – Nocturnal animals of varying sizes are often encountered at night. Catching the reflection of an animal’s eyes can give a driver more time to slow down and avoid an accident. When encountering a large animal, the best strategy is to slow down as quickly as you can without exiting your lane or driving off the road. Deer will often follow your headlights and move in front of you, so swerving can increase the likelihood of an accident.
5. Don’t Stare at On-coming Lights – Turn your gaze away from other lights on the road, and do not look at oncoming high beams.
6. Give Your Windshield a Wipe with Newspaper – Windshields that appear clean during the day may reveal streaks that can cause glare at night. A detailer's trick is to polish glass with newspaper to remove residue. 
7. Bolt on Some Fog Lights – Fog lights help the driver see the road instead of simply lighting up the fog in front of the car. These lights can be useful even when it's not foggy because they spread wider than typical low beams, so they can help you see farther beyond the road's shoulder.
8. Add Auxiliary Lights—Cautiously – There are a lot of auxiliary lamps available, such as driving lights, spotlights, or pencil beams. Many of these are meant only for off-road use and may be illegal if used otherwise.
9. Clean and Adjust Your Exterior Mirrors – Dirty mirrors reflect and distort light the same as dirty windshields.
10. Keep Your Eyes Healthy – Eye doctors recommend keeping your eyes moving and scanning all around your field of vision. The American Optometric Association suggests checkups every three years if you are under 40, every two years until you are 60, and annually thereafter.

The Florida legislature has been working on making changes to when Floridians change clocks. This year, both the House and Senate approved not changing the clocks. However, it may be many years before this can take place because the law needs an act of Congress to approve Florida’s potential change.

“We at Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. have the experienced team to assist you in determining your rights if you are injured in an accident. For a free consultation, please contact us 24/7,” said Attorney Randall Spivey, Fort Myers Car Accident Attorney.

Fort Myers Car Accident Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.