{"id":3696,"date":"2019-11-17T11:35:12","date_gmt":"2019-11-17T10:35:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/en.advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/?p=3696"},"modified":"2019-11-17T11:35:12","modified_gmt":"2019-11-17T10:35:12","slug":"shedding-light-on-how-daylight-saving-time-impacts-road-safety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/2019\/11\/17\/shedding-light-on-how-daylight-saving-time-impacts-road-safety\/","title":{"rendered":"Shedding Light on How Daylight Saving Time Impacts Road Safety"},"content":{"rendered":"

Shedding Light on How Daylight Saving Time Impacts Road Safety<\/h3>\n

Daylight Saving Time begins March 25. That means we\u2019ll all lose an hour of sleep. And there are other things about the time change to lament besides a little less shut eye. The beginning of Daylight Saving Time actually brings with it dangerous side effects related to road safety. A report produced by\u00a0Road Safety Analysis<\/a>\u00a0in 2010 looked at data from the Department for Transport saw an increase in road traffic collisions of 2.6% in the fortnights following Daylight Saving Time changes in the UK.<\/p>\n

Lytx VP of Safety Services Del Lisk explains why the Monday morning and evening commutes after a time change are so challenging for drivers (and how fleet safety managers can ensure their drivers turn in safe and sound Monday night).<\/p>\n

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  1. Fatigued drivers behind the wheel could be more prone to collisions.<\/strong> While people may lose an hour of sleep on Saturday night, it may not change what time they go to bed. Problem is, \u201cby the time people go back to work on Monday, the body hasn\u2019t adjusted to the new sleep schedule,\u201d Lisk said. That means Monday morning drivers tend to be more fatigued, less alert, and have slower reaction times, Lisk said. And the evening commute isn\u2019t much better.\n

    A 2016 University of Colorado Boulder<\/a>\u00a0study found that collisions spike in the days following a time change. \u201cAt the very least, greater fatigue leads to less attentive driving,\u201d Lisk said. \u201cIf traffic is slowing ahead, a fatigued driver is likely to recognise the slowdown late, and it could result in a rear-end collision. By Monday morning, the body and mind have not adjusted to the time change, and it can show in drivers\u2019 slower reaction times. A tired driver also is less likely to scan mirrors, Lisk said, increasing the chances of a driver to change lanes without looking or be surprised by the manoeuvres of other drivers.<\/li>\n

  2. A change in daylight patterns affects circadian rhythms.<\/strong> A Society for Neuroscience study<\/a> found that disruption of the day and night cycle leads to weight gain, impulsive behaviour and slower thinking, among other problems. With a disrupted sleep cycle, Lisk said, \u201cagain, fatigue increases\u2014and in congested end-of-day traffic where pedestrians, road markings and potholes are harder to see in the dark. It creates a dangerous situation,\u201d especially considering that nearly three out of four pedestrian deaths occur at nighttime<\/a> and distracted pedestrians<\/a> are on the rise.<\/li>\n
  3. Beware<\/strong> the angle of the sun.<\/strong> The onset of Daylight Saving Time means drivers heading to work will be on the road an hour later than usual Monday morning, when the sun is positioned differently than what drivers are used to. That means the sun could be shining directly into your drivers\u2019 eyes when they\u2019re starting their workday. With more fatigued drivers on the road and potentially diminished visibility, \u201cit makes for a bad cocktail,\u201d Lisk said.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    So how can drivers adjust to these challenges? By remembering three simple S\u2019s, Lisk said:<\/p>\n

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    1. Schedule.<\/strong> Encourage them to start their journey a few minutes earlier so they\u2019re not feeling rushed\u2014about 15 minutes earlier should suffice. \u201cWhen drivers are rushed, they tend to feel anxious and make poor decisions,\u201d Lisk said.<\/li>\n
    2. Speed. <\/strong>Have them reduce their speed by about five to 10 miles per hour, Lisk said. It\u2019s a simple move that gives drivers more reaction time. If your drivers are driving at a slower speed, they\u2019ll have more time to respond and won\u2019t require as much stopping distance.<\/li>\n
    3. \n

      Space.<\/strong> Remind them to leave extra space between themselves and the vehicle ahead. The extra space provides a greater buffer to protect against collisions in the morning rush hour and gives drivers additional time to safely see, think and act. Bonus tip: To prepare for the time change, drivers could set their alarms a bit earlier on Friday and Saturday mornings before the time change, Lisk said. It will make it easier for them to be ready for Monday morning.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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      Source: https:\/\/www.lytx.com<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

      FLEET MANAGEMENT AUDIT<\/h3>\n

      Fleet management is the use of a set of vehicles in order to provide services to a third-party, or to perform a task for our organization, in the most efficient and productive manner with a determined level of service and cost.<\/p>\n

      Fleet management activities are shown in the following graph 1:<\/p>\n

      \"fleet<\/p>\n

      Graph 1: fleet management activities<\/p>\n

      The proposal audit analyses and assesses all fleet management activities shown in the graph 1, and its main goals are:<\/p>\n