When daylight saving time starts on the second Sunday in March, people will wake one hour earlier than normal, begin and complete work routines earlier, and will have an extra hour of daylight at the end of the workday.
Even though losing only one hour does not seem significant, it can disrupt people’s schedules and affect their mental and physical health. The change of time can cause anxiety, stress and fatigue, which could affect truck drivers’ ability to remain safe on the road. CPC Logistics’ Senior Field Safety Manager Joe Cosenza offers the following tips to help drivers adjust to daylight saving time.
- Complete as many tasks as possible the day before daylight saving time begins. This may help you feel more composed when you head to work the next morning.
- Go to bed earlier to ensure you feel well-rested and to help your body sync with the time change.
- When clocks spring forward, avoid being late to work to keep from feeling rushed. If you are delayed, focus on staying calm.
- Do not eat breakfast, apply make-up or finish getting ready while driving.
- As you and others on the road adjust to the darker morning conditions, take extra care while driving. Practice patience to avoid road rage, pay attention to school zones and speed limits, and do not use your cell phone.
- Fatigue can delay reaction times and decrease alertness. Take a few extra minutes to carefully evaluate each work task.
- If you start yawning, making sudden lane changes, or growing irritable, you are probably tired. Find a safe, legal place to park such as a truck stop or well-lit rest area—not on the shoulder of a roadway—and take a break.
- Other people may not adjust the same way you do. If you observe a team member who is fatigued, stressed or anxious, encourage them to stop their task and take a break.
One hour can have a major impact. Be sure to take the necessary steps to help your body and mind adjust.