When daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, clocks in most of the United States will move back one hour. Mornings will get brighter, but evening commutes will turn dark sooner, and AAA says drivers should plan for that change.
Mark Jenkins, a spokesman for AAA – The Auto Club Group, said morning sun glare can make it hard to see the road, while earlier darkness makes pedestrians and cyclists harder to spot. He urged drivers to slow down, leave extra space and stay alert near intersections and crosswalks.
Research cited by AAA and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety links the shift to standard time with more pedestrian deaths. AAA said the rise in pedestrian fatalities since 2009 has happened almost entirely in darkness, mostly on urban arterial roads.
The change also raises fatigue concerns. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 644 people were killed in drowsy-driving crashes in 2024, and it warned that drowsiness is hard for investigators to confirm, so the true toll is likely hard to measure. Warning signs include trouble keeping eyes open, drifting from a lane and not remembering the last few miles. Drivers who feel drowsy should pull over somewhere safe and rest.
Tips for drivers
AAA recommends scanning intersections, shoulders, bus stops and crosswalks for people on foot or on bikes. Drivers should check headlights, taillights, brake lights and turn signals, and replace yellowed or cloudy headlight lenses. At night, slow down, increase following distance and drive at a speed that lets you stop within the area lit by your headlights.
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