Daylight saving time is dangerous for drivers

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Here's another reason not to switch to daylight saving time. When the clocks are moved forward an hour, it increases the risk of driving because it disrupts sleep and circadian rhythms.

Scientists at the University of Padua in Italy found that changing the clocks to daylight saving time, which moves the clocks forward an hour, can cause slightly more serious consequences than being late for work due to an alarm clock. In particular, it makes people drive more dangerously because it disrupts natural sleep-wake cycles. These are the results of testing the driving skills of 23 Italian male drivers before and after daylight saving time.

Researchers analyzed their reaction time and ability to analyze the situation on the road. Both of these skills were found to be impaired after losing an hour of time. It is believed that this was the result of lack of sleep and disruption of circadian rhythms – internal processes that regulate the sleep-wake cycle and other functions.

Science already knows that disruption of circadian rhythms due to the transition to daylight saving time increases health risks. i, including the probability of a heart attack. But it was not established what danger it causes on the roads. The results of the study show that in today's world it is better to abandon the transition to daylight saving time, since the minuses of this greatly outweigh the pluses.