Every year, millions of Americans adjust their clocks for Daylight Saving Time, also known as daylight time or summer time. This seemingly minor clock change has far-reaching consequences not only for sleep patterns and energy consumption, but also for driver safety and personal injury risk on U.S. roads. In the United States, the shift between standard time and Daylight Saving hours can alter visibility, reaction time, and driver alertness. What most people don’t realize is that these time transitions also affect auto insurance claims, car accident rates, and even how insurance companies assign liability after a crash, a pattern closely examined by experienced personal injury lawyers who handle daylight-related collision cases and insurance disputes.
1. A Brief Look at Daylight Saving in America
The idea of adjusting time seasonally dates back to thinkers like George Hudson and William Willett, who wanted to make better use of natural sunlight. The U.S. first adopted Daylight-saving time nationwide during World War I under the Standard Time Act to conserve fuel.
Today, the practice is regulated under the Uniform Time Act of 1966, later amended by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which extended daylight time by several weeks. The Department of Transportation oversees the DST schedule, ensuring consistency across all time zones, including Pacific Daylight Time, Mountain Standard Time, and Mountain Daylight Time.
Despite debates and proposals like the Sunshine Protection Act, which aims for a One-Time Change to make daylight saving time permanent, the federal law still requires the nation to switch twice a year between standard time and daylight time.
2. How the Clock Change Affects Driver Safety
Every time change disrupts our body’s circadian rhythm the natural “clock” controlling alertness. When Daylight Saving Time begins in March, losing just one hour of sleep can dramatically increase the risk of car accidents and personal injury.
Studies in the United States reveal that crash rates spike up to 6% immediately after the clock change. Sleep-deprived drivers have slower reaction times, poor decision-making, and increased drowsiness similar to those under the influence of alcohol.
For law enforcement and traffic safety agencies, the Monday after the shift to daylight time is often one of the most dangerous mornings of the year.
3. Standard Time vs. Daylight Time: Visibility and Risk
When clocks fall back to standard time in November, commuters suddenly find themselves driving in darker evening conditions. This creates more visibility issues and leads to an increase in rear-end collisions, pedestrian accidents, and fatigue-related crashes.
During daylight time, early risers face darker mornings, leading to delayed responses and traffic accidents involving school zones and crosswalks. The mix of changing light patterns, fatigue, and shifting time zones creates a perfect storm for danger on the road.
In short: both standard time and Daylight Saving periods carry unique hazards that can result in higher auto insurance costs and personal injury claims.
4. How Insurance Companies React After a Daylight Saving Crash
After a Daylight Saving crash, your insurance company will analyze every detail from your police report to your driver’s license record to determine fault. However, fatigue-related collisions often complicate liability under federal law and state-level traffic regulations.
If an at-fault driver causes a crash during Daylight Saving Time, their liability insurance should cover your medical expenses, property damage, and lost wages. Yet many insurance adjusters use fatigue, lighting changes, or weather as excuses to undervalue your personal injury claim.
This is why victims of fatigue-related crashes should seek help from a personal injury attorney familiar with insurance policy language and time-related accident factors.
5. The Impact on Workers and Commercial Drivers
Injured workers and commercial drivers are especially vulnerable during the Daylight Saving transitions. Truck drivers, delivery operators, and rideshare workers often work overnight, crossing multiple time zones.
The switch from standard time to daylight time can cause sleep disruption, slower response, and an increased risk of fatigue-related crashes. Those hurt on duty may be eligible for both workers’ compensation and auto insurance benefits, covering medical care, rehabilitation services, and wage loss.
However, workers’ compensation systems are slow, and appointment delays can lead to disputes about fault and benefits especially when the Judge of Compensation Claims questions whether fatigue played a role.
6. Daylight Saving, Energy, and Accident Data
Supporters of Daylight Saving Time argue it saves energy. Indeed, the Energy Policy Act claimed that extending daylight time would reduce national energy consumption. However, studies show the benefits are minimal and the costs in traffic accidents and personal injury cases may outweigh them.
During the energy crisis of the 1970s, the Uniform Time Act amendments were used to extend summer time, but accident data from the Department of Transportation found increased crashes and workplace injuries following every clock change.
7. Daylight Saving in the Courts and Legislatures
The Legislature of the State of Utah and several others have debated making daylight time permanent. Bills like the Sunshine Protection Act and the Time Change Amendments have received bipartisan support, with lawmakers like Daniel McCay, Joseph Elison, and even Greg Abbott expressing interest in reform.
However, under federal law, states cannot independently make daylight saving time permanent without congressional approval. This ongoing debate highlights how the Uniform Time Act and Energy Policy Act of 2005 continue to shape both daily life and road safety across the nation.
8. The Role of Technology and Time Tracking
Modern devices from the Windows 11 Settings app to smartphone system tray clocks now adjust automatically for daylight saving time changes. Yet even with digital convenience, confusion still arises, especially in areas bordering multiple time zones or those that don’t observe Daylight Saving, like parts of Arizona.
Incorrect Date & Time or Time & Language settings can affect everything from GPS logs to insurance claims after accidents, creating disputes about timing and driver responsibility.
9. How Drivers Can Stay Safe During the Switch
Here are key steps to reduce risks during Daylight Saving Time changes:
- Sleep more before and after the switch to avoid fatigue driving.
- Check vehicle lights since visibility decreases during standard time.
- Plan commutes to avoid drowsy early-morning or post-sunset driving.
- Review your insurance policy for Personal Injury Protection, liability insurance, and collision coverage.
- If injured, file your claim form promptly and track all medical expenses.
If your insurer delays your claim, contact an attorney familiar with Daylight Saving-related accident trends and workers’ compensation insurance issues.
10. The Bigger Picture: Time Change and Public Safety
From British Summer Time in the European Union to Central European Summer Time, countries worldwide are reevaluating seasonal time shifts. Even Florida law has proposed staying on daylight time year-round to reduce confusion.
Still, the United States continues to toggle between standard time and Daylight Saving Time, a system some experts call outdated. Advocates for reform argue that eliminating the twice-yearly clock change could save lives by reducing car accidents, domestic violence, and fatigue-related injuries.
About Ted Law Firm
At Ted Law Firm, We serve families across Aiken, Anderson, Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, Myrtle Beach, North Augusta and Orangeburg. We help victims understand their rights under federal law, the Uniform Time Act, and applicable workers’ compensation protections. Our mission is to ensure that time changes don’t cost you your safety, your health, or your financial security.Contact us today for a free consultation.
