It’s that time of year again: Daylight saving time 2021 is upon us. That means a lot of weary Americans are about to lose some sleep when they put their clocks forward an hour on March 14.
It also means that there’s going to be a lot of accidents out there on the road.
Heart attacks, strokes and car crashes coincide with sleep interruptions
An hour may not sound like much, but to the average person who lives on a very tight schedule, an hour may be all it takes to utterly disrupt their sleep cycle.
In turn, that can cause a massive disruption on the human body. Hospitals see a 24% increase in heart attacks each spring around the annual switch. (Conversely, that switch in the fall that gives everybody an hour more in bed is associated with a 21% decrease in heart attacks.)
And here’s the really bad news: It can actually take weeks for the human body to adjust. In the meantime, there are a lot of physically exhausted drivers heading out on the road. Many of them will be leaving home while it’s still dark again, and that makes them increasingly drowsy and prone to accidents.
Know what to do if you fall victim to a drowsy driver
Experts recommend that you try to get at least an hour of extra sleep before the time switch, which can help your body adjust.
That won’t necessarily protect you from the other drivers out there on the road, however. If you’re involved in a crash with a drowsy driver this spring, make sure you take steps to protect your future interests. An attorney can tell you more.
