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Auto Club Advises Motorists, Children to Watch Out as Time ‘Springs Ahead’ This Weekend

Daylight-saving time begins at 2 a.m. Sunday and with it, changes in when the sun rises and sets that may affect drivers and pedestrians. The Automobile Club of Southern California urges parents to make sure children who are playing outside later in the day are wearing helmets while biking and skateboarding.  They also should caution children of all ages to watch out for motorists.   Drivers are advised to use extra caution and to be aware of more children and others are outdoors in the lighter evening hours especially in the first weeks of the time change. 
 
Motorists should drive slower and be extra alert, especially in residential neighborhoods and school zones because more bicyclists, children, joggers, pedestrians, and walkers will be outside biking, running, playing and walking because of the longer daylight hours during the evening commute, according to the Auto Club.  Children under the age of 15 accounted for 17.3 percent of pedestrian victims and 13.7 percent of bicycle victims (victims killed and injured) in California traffic collisions in 2010.
 
Drivers also should be prepared to face reduced visibility during the morning commute.  “The morning drive to work or school will be darker so drivers can expect impaired visibility,” said Anita Lorz Villagrana, of the Auto Club’s Community Programs and Traffic Safety Dept. “Drivers may need to turn on their headlights, if you begin your commute early in the morning hours, and then turn the headlights off when you reach your destination.”
 
As the morning sun is coming up, it may cause reflections off car windows, hoods or other metallic portions of automobiles and can be a serious hazard, she added.  “The glare may cause temporary blindness.  To reduce glare, wear high-quality sunglasses and adjust your car’s sun visors as needed,” said Lorz Villagrana.  “Late afternoon driving also presents a similar glare problem, so the same recommendations apply.” 
 
In addition to adjusting their commuting habits for daylight-saving time, the Auto Club also recommends that drivers wear their safety belts and be sure that all passengers are buckled up.  Small children under age 13 should be secured safely in the backseats of vehicles.
 
CST 1016202-80 Copyright © Automobile Club of Southern California. All Rights Reserved.
The Automobile Club of Southern California is a member club affiliated with the American Automobile Association (AAA) national federation and serves members in the following California counties: Inyo, Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Mono, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tulare, and Ventura.