Contact: Esther Bowring, 240-777-6530
For Immediate Release: October 18, 2001

Daylight Savings Time Change Means
Drivers and Pedestrians Should Be More Alert

Montgomery County Department of Public Works and Transportation (DPWT) officials remind residents that the change to daylight savings time on October 28 this year means that most evening commutes will now occur at dusk or in the dark – and drivers and pedestrians should exercise even more caution than usual.

“Pedestrian safety is important all year round, but more pedestrian accidents occur in the winter months, due to the shorter hours of daylight,” said DPWT Director Al Genetti. “Most pedestrians do not realize how difficult it is for drivers to see them at dusk or at night. Pedestrians should avoid wearing dark colored clothing, and instead wear reflective items that can easily be seen by drivers.”

According to AAA World Magazine, “the contrast between the brightness of the sky and the dark pavement makes seeing other vehicles and pedestrians – and being seen by them – more difficult.”

When a pedestrian sees a car and driver, they should not assume that the driver can see them – particularly on east-west routes when the sun can be either in the drivers eyes or reflecting in their rearview mirror.

AAA advises drivers to always use their headlights during pre-dawn and dusk hours, rather than relying on parking lights. And, it recommends keeping both the insides and outsides of car windshields and windows clean.