Soon, we will have to fall back, and by that I mean it will be time to set our clocks back an hour. Most of you are probably really excited about getting an extra hour of sleep (I know I was!). There’s more going on with Daylight Savings than just getting an extra hour of sleep.
Daylight Savings can affect your circadian rhythm, for better or worse. If you don’t know what circadian rhythm is, it’s basically your body’s internal clock. How does this relate to driving? Well, when the clocks jump forward and back for Daylight Savings, it can affect your circadian rhythm, which can make you fatigued while you’re driving.
Fatigue while driving is actually very dangerous. When someone falls asleep at the wheel, they take no action to prevent their collision, which makes for severe collisions.
So, make sure you get well adjusted to the extra hour you’re going to get, so your circadian rhythm can get back on track and you’ll be less likely to become fatigued while driving because of lack of sleep.
Watch this video to see Patrick Barrett, the Driver Education Guru, explain circadian rhythms and how their affected by Daylight Savings.