Does Daylight Saving Time Do More Harm Than Good?

New Mexico daylight saving time

Everyone has an opinion on New Mexico daylight saving time. Some people think the extra hour of daylight during the winter months is important for the safety of school-aged students, while others hate losing a precious extra hour of daylight during the warmer months. In January 2023, the New Mexico State Senate introduced SB 287, which would make daylight saving time permanent and eliminate changing clocks twice a year. The bill has cleared the Senate Health Committee, but has been postponed indefinitely.

Until the fate of New Mexico daylight saving time is determined, the New Mexico injury lawyers at Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys want to make sure that you’re aware of the time change’s effect on public safety.

New Mexico Daylight Saving Time 2024

This year, daylight saving time will begin at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 10. Daylight saving time will continue until Sunday, November 3, 2024. More specifically, New Mexico clocks will jump ahead an hour at 2:00 a.m. resulting in an hour of lost sleep from Sunday to Monday. 

The sun will also rise an hour later, meaning more time in the darkness for early risers. On the plus side, however, the sun will set an hour later in the evening. But how does this affect us beyond lost sleep and extra sunshine?

Daylight Saving Time Initially Causes More Car Accidents

Many of us have heard that car accidents (in addition to workplace injuries and heart attacks) increase after daylight saving time. But is it true?

Data analyzed by the University of Colorado at Boulder indicates that there is a 6% spike in deadly car accidents in the week following the start of daylight saving time in March. In addition, the study found that the farther west someone lives in their time zone, the higher the risk of being involved in a deadly crash. 

Scientists theorize that springing forward—even by just an hour—can disrupt some people’s circadian rhythm, resulting in poor concentration and impaired cognitive skills. This disruption can take as long as a week for their brains to adjust to the change. Even a mild lapse in judgment can cause a fatal car wreck, meaning the number of accidents often jumps noticeably.

Daylight Saving Time Decreases Car Accidents Overall

In spite of the initial spike in deadly car wrecks in the first week of New Mexico daylight saving time, the number of car accidents actually begins to decrease in the months during which daylight saving time is in effect. But why and how does this occur?

Daylight saving time increases the amount of daylight experienced by most nine-to-five workers, many of whom will enjoy an extra hour of sunshine and heightened road visibility when commuting home. This can not only protect motorists, but pedestrians and bicyclists who may not otherwise be as visible at certain times of the day.

In 2022, MOST Policy Initiative shared findings that by keeping DST in place year-round there would be an estimated reduction in pedestrian fatalities by about 170/year and motor vehicle fatalities by 195/year.

Injured in Albuquerque? Contact Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys.

Until New Mexico lawmakers can come to a consensus regarding daylight saving time, residents should exercise additional caution during the week of March 10 to March 17, when a higher number of drowsy drivers may be on the road. To prevent accidents related to New Mexico daylight saving time, get plenty of sleep and be aware of your surroundings, even during your regular commute.

If you are injured during daylight saving time due to the negligence of another motorist, contact a New Mexico car crash lawyer at Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys to get the most compensation for your injuries. Call our office at 505-544-4444 day or night, 24/7. You can also chat with a live representative online or submit your case details using our secure contact form. The consultation is free and you won’t pay a cent out of pocket unless we win your case.

The information on this blog is for general information purposes only. Nothing herein should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.