This year, Daylight Savings Time (DST) begins on Sunday, March 12. Most states switch to DST at 2 a.m., although some do not change their clocks.  Although losing an hour of sleep might not seem significant, many studies have reported increased accidents on the Monday after DST begins. The classic study by Stanley Coren, a researcher at the University of British Columbia, published in 1996, found that traffic accidents increased to a statistically significant degree one week after the shift to Daylight Savings Time. Conversely, accidents decreased the week after the switch to Standard Time, when they (theoretically) gain an hour of sleep. According to Coren, "The loss of merely one hour of sleep can increase the risk of traffic accidents. It is likely that the effects are due to sleep loss rather than a nonspecific disruption in circadian rhythm, since gaining an additional hour of sleep at the fall time shift seems to decrease the risk of accidents."

"One hour of lost sleep may not seem like a lot. But our findings suggest it could have an impact on people’s ability to stay alert on the job and prevent serious injuries," said Christopher Barnes, PhD, co-author of study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology (September 2009). The study examined mining accidents over a period of 24 years and found an average of 3.6 more injuries on the Mondays following the switch to daylight saving time compared to other days. This resulted in an additional 2,649 lost work days.  

Other studies have found a "significant increase" in fatal traffic accidents on the Monday immediately following the spring shift to DST. Drowsiness due to lost sleep undoubtedly contributes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports drowsy driving was a factor in 2.2 to 2.6 percent of fatal crashes annually between 2005 and 2009. 

When scheduling drivers and hazardous tasks for the Monday following DST, employers will want to take drowsiness into account. For other suggestions on reducing fatigue-related accidents, please contact the CRA ProRental™ Insurance Program professionals of EPIC/Jenkins Insurance brokers for assistance at (800) 234-6363, or email us at prorental@epicbrokers.com.