Many people believe that car accidents are less common after Daylight Savings time. Longer daylight hours means that people will spend less time traveling when it is dark. However, statistics have shown that the opposite is true. Car accidents in Knoxville, TN are actually more common when the days get longer.
A report released by the Fatal Accident Reporting System showed that car accidents were 17 percent more common the Monday after Daylight Savings time. When times goes forward, people lose an hour of sleep. People who drive while they are sleepy are more likely to get into a car accident.
Many people only sleep six hours after Daylight Savings time. A study done by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety showed that people who only get six or seven hours of sleep are twice as likely to get into a car accident. Sleeping less than five hours per night makes you four to five times more likely to get into an accident.
There are also many other factors that increase the risk of getting into a car accident after Daylight Savings time. When there are longer hours in the day, there are more cars on the road. The more cars on the road, the more likely car accidents are to occur.
Additionally, many people go on vacation during the spring and summer time. Many people are distracted while they are traveling on the vacation. Drivers may be dealing with small children, listening to the GPS or using their cell phone. All these things are distractions, which can lead to a car accident.
Construction workers often work longer hours during the summer time. Accidents are more common in areas with construction work. Lanes are shut down, and people often have to make detours in roadway construction zones. These things can lead to car accidents.
The temperature outside usually increases when the length of the days increase. The hot weather in Knoxville can take a toll on one’s vehicle. In fact, vehicle issues are more likely to occur when the weather is hot. For example, hot weather can cause the tires to expand. This increases the risk of tire blowouts, which can lead to car accidents.
It is also important to note that there are more teen drivers on the road during late spring and summer. Teen drivers are already at a greater risk for getting into a car accident because of their inexperience. However, this risk is even greater during the summer months. Teen drivers spend 44 percent more time on the road during the summer than they do during the school year.
Not only are there more cars on the road, but there are also more cyclists and motorcyclists on the road during the spring and summer months. This adds to more traffic congestion. Furthermore, many people have trouble seeing cyclists and motorcyclists, which increases the risk of car accidents.
There is also a link between road rage and hot weather. This can increase the risk of car accidents.
