Daylight Saving Time Ends Sunday: AAA Warns of Evening Commute Hazards

When clocks fall back an hour early Sunday morning, November 1, drivers across the Panhandle will face shifting visibility challenges that could increase crash risk, according to AAA — The Auto Club Group.

The end of daylight saving time means sunset will arrive roughly an hour earlier, pushing more evening commutes into darkness. Research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety shows pedestrian fatalities have climbed dramatically since 2009, with nearly all that increase occurring after dark, particularly on busy city roads. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety also found pedestrian deaths spike when standard time resumes, highlighting the heightened danger for walkers and cyclists in low-light conditions.

"Drivers can expect a noticeable change in their commute almost overnight," said Mark Jenkins, AAA spokesman for 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."

AAA recommends checking headlights, taillights, and turn signals before evening drives, keeping sunglasses accessible for morning glare, and reducing speed after dark to stay within the beam of your headlights. The time change also coincides with increased drowsy-driving risk—the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration linked 644 deaths to fatigue-related crashes in 2024. If you feel drowsy behind the wheel, pull over safely to rest rather than push through fatigue.