Time change puts California officers on the road looking for tired drivers. Here’s why
California Highway Patrol is urging drivers to be cognizant of how the recent time change affects their ability to drive safely.
And officers will be keeping an extra eye out for drowsy drivers this week, said Officer Mike Harris, the public information officer for the CHP Valley Division.
“The ‘fall back’ time change can disrupt sleep patterns and affect a driver’s ability to concentrate and safely operate a motor vehicle,” the CHP said in a press release.
Daylight saving time ended Sunday. CHP is participating in Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, which spans from Nov. 7 to Nov. 13.
“Our main goal is to keep our roadways safe,” Harris said. He would not confirm if there will be additional officers on the road.
CHP said drowsiness can have similar effects as drugs or alcohol.
“When you think of the causes of impaired or distracted driving, include drowsy driving,” said CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray in the press release.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 697 deaths from car accidents related to drowsy driving in 2019.
On average, there are over 6,000 crashes each year attributed to fatigued driving in California, the CHP said.
The NHTSA said that these types of incidents can occur in the day or night, but it typically happens between midnight and 6 a.m., and late afternoon. It often involves single drivers. It is also most commonly associated with rural roads and highways.
Harris added that drowsy driving has a greater likelihood of happening during mornings and evenings.
Some tips that the CHP provided to avoid sleepiness while driving include getting enough sleep before going on the road and driving with a passenger so you can switch drivers when you’re feeling sleepy.
It said you should also avoid alcohol or medications that cause drowsiness, and take regular rest stops.
If you see someone driving dangerously, don’t get involved. Instead, Harris said you should call law enforcement and report all the information that you know.
This story was originally published November 8, 2021 at 12:04 PM with the headline "Time change puts California officers on the road looking for tired drivers. Here’s why."