Our clocks will roll back an hour on Sunday, marking the end of daylight savings. But it’s not only a time to check your smoke alarms and fix the clock in your car. ODOT says it marks the deadliest time of the year for pedestrian crashes in the Buckeye state.
It says 34-percent of deadly pedestrian crashes happen in October, November, and December. “We see an increase, a large increase actually in pedestrian deaths due in part to the time change. It’s going to be getting dark earlier, people are walking home from work, kids walking home from school and it’s going to be a little darker when they do those things than when it is the rest of the year, “said Matt Bruning, Press Secretary for the Ohio Department of Transportation.
It recommends you take extra precautions this time of year to, “see and be seen.”
If you’re outside as it gets dark, wear reflective clothing with reflective tape, pay attention to crosswalks and signals, and walk against traffic- not with it.
Our clocks will roll back an hour on Sunday, marking the end of daylight savings. But it’s not only a time to check your smoke alarms and fix the clock in your car. ODOT says it marks the deadliest time of the year for pedestrian crashes in the Buckeye state.
For drivers, ODOT recommends you check your headlights, clean your windshields and slow down during times of poor weather, reduced visibility and in high-traffic areas like school zones.
It also recommends both drivers and pedestrians limit their distractions, like using a cell phone.
“When you look back to 2009, we’ve had more than 11-hundred pedestrians killed in the state of Ohio. About 70-percent of those pedestrian deaths happen at dawn, dusk or in the overnight hours when it’s darker outside,” said Bruning.
With the clocks changing in just days, we asked Central Ohioans how they’re preparing to stay safe on their commutes home from work.
“I will wear lighter clothes and make sure I have a flashlight on me at all times,” said Columbus resident, Georgette Haltom.
A message her friend, Kelly Matheny reiterated. “Wearing a coat that has reflective material.”
Gahanna resident Eric Hopkins says he’s not too worried about it being dark on his walk to the bus stop after work. “Just gotta be vigilant, obey the signals.”
So far this year, ODOT says at least 94 pedestrians and 23 bicyclists have been killed.