Crash risk extends beyond the first Monday back at work after ‘springing ahead’

Losing an hour of sleep this weekend during the spring time change may not seem significant, but it can have longer-lasting effects on driver safety.

Road Safety at Work says disrupted sleep can quietly build fatigue over several days, leaving drivers less alert and more vulnerable to crashes. In an average year, 513 people in B.C. are injured or killed in fatigue-related crashes, according to ICBC statistics.

The risk is especially high for the hundreds of thousands of B.C. residents who drive as part of their job. From tradespeople heading to job sites at dawn, to sales staff covering large territories, to delivery drivers on tight schedules, work-related driving often begins early and leaves little room for fatigue.

People tend to think the danger is limited to the first day back at work after the clocks change, says Trace Acres, spokesperson for Road Safety at Work. “But fatigue doesn’t reset overnight. Even small disruptions to sleep can accumulate, affecting reaction time, judgment, and attention for days afterward.”

Drivers often underestimate how tired they still are as their bodies adjust to the new schedule.

That false sense of confidence can be reinforced by early spring conditions. Longer daylight and milder weather can make driving feel easier, even as fatigue lingers beneath the surface.

When roads look clear and days feel brighter, it’s easy to lose focus on the task at hand. But fatigue doesn’t disappear just because the weather improves. “In fact, feeling ‘fine’ is often when drivers take more risks,” Acres said.

Fatigue reduces a driver’s ability to process and respond to critical driving information. It affects judgment of distance, speed, and timing. And it can make common spring hazards more dangerous, such as glare from low-angle sunlight, wet pavement, increased pedestrian and cyclist activity, and heavier traffic as people spend more time out and about.

Road Safety at Work encourages drivers to treat the week following the time change as a high-risk period, not a one-day adjustment. That means prioritizing sleep, being honest about your alertness, and driving more cautiously even when conditions seem favourable.

Give yourself permission to take it slower, Acres said. “Getting to your destination safely is what matters.”

Employers have a responsibility to manage the risk of harm at work when workers are fatigued. Road Safety at Work provides practical tips to help employers and drivers manage fatigue behind the wheel.

Road Safety at Work is a WorkSafeBC Injury Reduction Initiative managed by the Justice Institute of BC. It aims to eliminate work-related motor vehicle crashes, deaths, and injuries in B.C.

e-KNOW file photo

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