Clocks in B.C. go forward one hour this Sunday at 2 a.m.
And as Daylight Savings Time (DST) begins, a new survey from ICBC found that one-third of drivers in this province say they feel less alert after the time change.
According to the survey, 34 per cent of drivers said the time shift does affect them and make them feel sluggish even though they are also making an effort to help their bodies adapt.
“We’re actually encouraged to see that many drivers have the self-awareness to know that they may have a diminished capacity to drive safely immediately following the time change,” said Dr. John Vavrik, a psychologist with ICBC.
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“This is a much better attitude to have than being over-confident that you’re not affected which tends to increase your crash risk.”
ICBC’s survey also found that women drivers say they are more negatively impacted by the change even though they generally have a lower crash risk compared to men.
“The change in our sleep cycle can cause unique dangers on our roads as some drivers will feel more fatigued than usual,” said Vavrik. “Given that, it’s also encouraging to see that almost one-third of drivers actually go to bed earlier to adapt to the change.”
The biggest impacts of the time change on drivers can seen in some of the skills necessary for safe driving – poorer concentration, alertness behind the wheel and reaction time to potential hazards.
ICBC says the time change can even make us feel more fatigued without even knowing it.
The company recommends getting to bed earlier on Saturday and going to bed at your regular time on Sunday to be ready for Monday morning.
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