Safe Night Driving When DST Ends: A Guide for Driver's Ed Students, Teens, and Parents

When Daylight Saving Time (DST) ends and the clocks “fall back” an hour, it's a sudden return to driving in the dark much earlier in the evening. This can lead to an increase in traffic accidents. 

A study published in the Journal of Safety ResearchArticle Pii S0022437522001141 Science found that car crashes increased by 6% in the four weeks after DST ends, with nighttime crashes increasing by 28%. 

Students and newly licensed drivers are at greater risk, which is a concern for parents. Here’s what teen drivers and parents can do to prepare for driving in the dark when DST ends. 

Understand The Risks of Driving at Night

Driving after Daylight Saving Time ends is risky for two reasons. One, your body is adjusting to the time change. And second, your evening commute may now take place in the dark. As such, it’s important to be extra vigilant and alert in the days after the end of DST. 

In particular, driving at nightDriving Information Driving Conditions Challenges Of Night Driving Driversed.com is a different experience than driving during the day. The same road you drive when it is light can look completely different, even unfamiliar, when driving at night. This can cause you to make mistakes, like taking a wrong turn or missing an exit.

This, combined with reduced visibility and the glare of street lights and car headlights, can increase the risk of driving errors and lead to an accident. As dusk nears, switch on your vehicle lights, reduce your speed, and avoid distractions. If you’re unsure of a route, use the GPS to direct you.

Build Night Driving Confidence

Becoming comfortable drivingTrending 6 Tips Feel More Confident Road Driversed.com at night takes time. You can build confidence by gradually exposing yourself to driving in the dark. 

Practice in low-traffic areas and low-light conditions in the weeks before the clocks return to standard time. Driving between twilight and dusk can help your eyes adjust to less light before moving on to driving in darkness. It may be nerve-wracking at first, but the more you drive in the dark, the more confident you’ll become. 

Follow Practical Safe Driving Tips

Your goal should be to drive safely whenever you’re behind the wheel. Night driving, however, does present additional risks. 

To drive safely at night, follow these safety tips: 

• Check that all your vehicle lights are functioning. If any lights are not working, get them fixed. 

• Keep the car’s windshield clean. Dust and streaks on the windshield not only affect visibility but can also exacerbate glare from street and car lights.  

• Don’t speed! Inexperienced drivers have a higher chance of being in a car accidentRisk Factors Index.html Teen Drivers due to speeding. Reducing your speed when driving at night will give you more time to react. 

• Maintain a safe following distance. This allows you more time to brake safely should the car in front of you stop suddenly.

• Use your high beam on dark roads with few or no streetlights. When oncoming cars approach, turn your high beamsDriving Information The Vehicle Lights Driversed.com off so the bright lights do not blind drivers. 

Stay Alert and Focused

The time change can leave you feeling tired in those first few days as your body adjusts. Fatigue and drowsiness is a leading cause of car accidents, with a notable increase in crashes at the start and end of daylight saving time. 

A recent studyArticles PMC11320437 Pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov in 2024 showed that the spring transition to DST (when the clocks jump forward) had a negative impact on driver fatigue indicators, such as eyelid closure and maintaining vehicle lateral control. These fatigue indicators worsened at the end of DST.

You can stay alert and focused during this risky period by: 

• Getting enough sleep. 

• Listening to music while driving. 

• Opening a window to let fresh air in. 

• Avoiding heavy meals before driving. 

• Taking breaks if you have a long journey.

• Avoiding distractions while drivingTrending Dangers Distracted Driving And How Avoid Them Driversed.com, such as texting and driving, eating and drinking, and applying makeup. 

The Role of Parents — and Defensive Driving

If your teen is new to night driving, discuss the risks associated with driving at night. Encourage open dialogue in which you and your teen can share experiences and strategies for safer night driving. 

For example, you could schedule practice drives at night to help them improve their night driving skills. You could also put some rules in place, such as not transporting passengers at night until they become more experienced at driving at night. 

Parents can support their teens to become safer driversDrivers Ed Help Your Teen Become A Defensive Driver Driversed.com by enrolling them in a defensive driving course and practicing the techniques taught together. New drivers can benefit from learning defensive driving techniques that teach them how to drive safely at night and anticipate other drivers’ actions to prevent a collision. 

Learn Defensive Driving Techniques to Prepare for When Daylight Saving Time Ends

The end of daylight saving time means drivers must adjust to a change in time and light conditions in the evening. This can be a daunting time if you’re a new driver, but with preparation, practice, and parental support, you can improve your night driving skills and safely navigate the roads when the clocks change. 

Children learn by example. How about signing up for a defensive driving courseTraffic School Driversed.com with your teen? It’s an excellent way for parents and teens to enhance their driving skills while bonding over a shared learning experience.