From AAA
Summary: The return to standard time means brighter mornings but earlier sunsets, creating visibility challenges for drivers during evening commutes. AAA encourages motorists to watch for pedestrians and cyclists, prepare for morning sun glare, and recognize the dangers of drowsy driving.
When daylight saving time ended at 2 a.m. Sunday, November 1, clocks in most of the United States moved back one hour. While mornings will become brighter, darkness will arrive earlier, creating new visibility challenges during the evening commute.
“Drivers can expect a noticeable change in their commute almost overnight,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Morning sun glare can make it difficult to see the road ahead, while earlier darkness makes pedestrians and cyclists harder to spot in the evening. Slow down, leave extra space and stay focused, especially around intersections and crosswalks.”
Earlier Darkness Creates Risks for Pedestrians
The shift back to standard time means more evening travel will occur after sunset. Research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that the increase in pedestrian fatalities since reaching a historic low in 2009 has occurred almost entirely in darkness, primarily on urban arterial roads.
Research from IIHS also found that pedestrian deaths rise when standard time resumes, reinforcing the increased risks pedestrians and bicyclists face in low-light conditions.
Drowsy Driving Remains a Concern
The time change also serves as an important reminder about the dangers of driving while fatigued. NHTSA reports that 644 people were killed in drowsy-driving-related crashes in 2024. The agency cautions that drowsiness can be difficult for crash investigators to identify, meaning the full scope of the problem is difficult to measure.
Warning signs include trouble keeping your eyes open, drifting from your lane or not remembering the last few miles driven. Drivers who become drowsy should pull over somewhere safe and rest rather than try to push through fatigue.
AAA Offers Tips for Changing Driving Conditions
During morning drives:
- Prepare for sun glare. Keep sunglasses within reach, use the sun visor and avoid looking directly at the sun.
- Keep a clear view. Clean the windshield inside and out, since haze, dust and streaks can intensify glare.
- Leave more room. Increase following distance and anticipate sudden braking when drivers ahead encounter glare.
When driving after dark:
- Make sure you can see and be seen. Check headlights, taillights, brake lights and turn signals, and replace yellowed or cloudy headlight lenses.
- Adjust for reduced visibility. Reduce speed, increase following distance and drive slowly enough to stop within the area illuminated by your headlights.
- Watch for people outside vehicles. Scan intersections, shoulders, bus stops and crosswalks for pedestrians and cyclists who may be difficult to see.
The Auto Club Group (ACG), named a 2026 Forbes Most Trusted Company in America, is the second-largest AAA club in North America, with more than 14 million members across 14 U.S. states and two U.S. territories. ACG and its affiliates provide members with roadside assistance, insurance products, financial services, travel offerings and more. ACG is part of the national AAA federation, which serves more than 66 million members across the United States and Canada. Its mission is to protect and advance freedom of mobility and improve traffic safety. Morning Consult recently ranked AAA Insurance as America's most trusted insurance brand for 2026, reflecting the confidence consumers place in the AAA brand. For more information, download the AAA Mobile app, visit AAA.com, and follow us on social media.
Key Points:
- Earlier darkness: The November 1 time change means more evening commuters will be driving after sunset, when pedestrians and cyclists can be harder to see.
- Pedestrian fatalities: Research cited by AAA and IIHS indicates that increases in pedestrian deaths have occurred largely in darkness, particularly on urban arterial roads.
- Drowsy driving risks: NHTSA reports that 644 people died in drowsy-driving-related crashes in 2024. Drivers experiencing fatigue should pull over somewhere safe and rest.
- Morning glare precautions: AAA recommends keeping sunglasses handy, using sun visors, cleaning windshields, and increasing following distance.
- Nighttime driving safety: Check vehicle lights, reduce speed, leave extra space, and scan intersections, shoulders, bus stops, and crosswalks for pedestrians and cyclists.
