The annual campaign to stop the change of clocks to Daylight Saving Time (DST) is back.

This year the changing of the clocks is being highlighted by a new report from the University of Surrey. Researchers believe that it may cause people to take dangerous risks when driving.

 

Clocking danger

The study is a joint project with an Italian university.  It investigates whether sleep deprivation caused by the spring transition to DST has an impact on driving performance.

The answer was yes. It seems participants take more risks, failing to judge situations properly, “making accidents more likely”.

The researchers are now calling on the Government to “reconsider our daylight-saving time policy as our safety is at risk”.

Out of date, out of time

Sara Montagnese, professor of chronobiology at the University of Surrey, believes the clock change is outdated.

“Findings from our study will show there is no place for daylight saving time in today’s world, as the negatives strongly outweigh the positives.”

As part of the study, the driving performance of 23 males (the experimental group) was assessed before and after the introduction of springtime DST.

Meanwhile, a control group of 22 males also undertook two assessments, both prior to DST.

In each experiment, participants were asked to drive an 11.5km route on a driving simulator. This  included both rural and urban roads, and different driving scenarios.

Drivers were tested to see if they would take unnecessary risks. It included being stuck behind a vehicle on a long straight road with a continuous centreline. Would they overtake?

Before DST, it was found that the behaviour of drivers in both groups was similar – only 9% opt to overtake.

During assessment two after DST was introduced, 39% of people in the experimental group overtook the leading vehicle.

In contrast, those in the control group ‘maintained safer behaviours’.

Alarm bells ring

Researchers say this indicates likely engagement in risky behaviours. Post DST showed drivers were more prone to commit overtaking violations.

When encountering a cyclist, most experimental and control participants overtook in both simulations. However, noticeable differences were identified in the second assessment.

Those in the control group increased the distance between themselves and the cyclist when passing. In contrast, the experimental group shortened the distance, compromising the cyclist’s safety.

The behaviours of those in the experimental group when exiting a motorway also ‘raised safety concerns’.

For example, researchers noted those in this group tended to be more abrupt when changing direction and when decelerating to exit, increasing the likelihood of causing an accident.

Action needed

Sara Montagnese added: “The presence of a control group, whose behaviours remained similar across both assessments, showed that daylight saving time affected those in the experimental group and impacted them for several days after the time change.

“Such an impact cannot be ignored, and it is important to reconsider our daylight-saving time policy as our safety is at risk.”