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Spring forward safely
time change pic
Daylight saving time will begin at 2 a.m. Sunday. Make sure to move your clocks one hour ahead before going to bed tonight.

Daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. on Sunday. As we approach this biannual shift in time,A AA urges drivers to take extra precautions while on the road. According to the National Safety Council data, a significant increase of up to 6 percent in crashes occurs the Monday immediately following the spring shift.

 “It is important to try to set your ‘internal clock’ and get the proper amount of sleep the night before as you turn your clocks forward one hour,” says Cynthia Harris, AAA Northern California spokesperson. “That one hour of sleep deprivation can leave you feeling groggy and have a dangerous impact on your driving skills.”

 

AAA Tips for Motorists When Driving on Early Morning Dark Roads:

·         Prep your car for nighttime driving.  Check and clean your headlights, taillights, brake lights, and signal lights. You want to see and be seen by other drivers on the road. 

·         Know when to use your low beams and high beams. Use your low beams when you need to see about 250 feet in front of you and high beams when your visibility range is 350 to 500 feet. Dim your high beams when following another driver or approaching an oncoming car.

·         Get rest.  Avoid the temptation to stay up extra late on Saturday and Sunday night. Wake up 30 minutes earlier on Saturday and Sunday morning to help re-set your internal clock.

·         Avoid drowsy driving: If you are feeling drowsy, pull safely off the road and continue to drive only when you are sufficiently rested.

·         Use your headlights: Drive with your headlights on to increase your visibility to other drivers.

            Just after sunrise and before sunset the sun can shine directly into drivers’ eyes, leaving many motorists driving with a glare. This glare can make it much harder to see the road ahead. When sun glare is an issue slow down and use extra caution, especially while driving through school zones.

AAA tips for motorists when driving into the sun:

Invest in polarized sunglasses: They can help reduce glare.

Utilize your sun visor: It can help to block out the sun.

Keep safe distance behind: Sun in your eyes reduces your view of the car ahead.

·         As a last resort, temporarily use lane markings as a guide: Bright sun makes roads hard to see. 

  For more information about AAA Safety Tips, visit www.Exchange.AAA.com.