Clocks will spring forward an hour in the early morning hours of Sunday, March 8, when B.C. moves to daylight saving time, and while losing an hour of sleep might not seem significant, it can have long-lasting effects on driver safety.
The province announced on March 2 that it will adopt permanent, year-round daylight saving time after clocks shift ahead this weekend. However, it still means that British Columbians have to deal with “springing ahead” one more time, and Road Safety at Work is warning drivers that disrupted sleep can lead to the buildup of fatigue over several days after the change.
This can leave drivers less alert and more vulnerable to crashes. In an average year, 513 people in B.C. are injured or killed in fatigue-related crashes, according to ICBC statistics.
The risk is particularly high for the hundreds of thousands of B.C. residents who drive as part of their job. From tradespeople heading to job sites at dawn, to sales staff covering large territories, to delivery drivers on tight schedules, work-related driving often begins early and leaves little room for fatigue.
The effects of the time change are not limited to the first day back at work after the clocks change. “Fatigue doesn’t reset overnight,” says Trace Acres, spokesperson for Road Safety at Work. “Even small disruptions to sleep can accumulate, affecting reaction time, judgment, and attention for days afterward.”
Drivers often underestimate how tired they still are as their bodies adjust to the new schedule, and early spring conditions can lead to a false sense of confidence. More daylight later in the day, plus milder weather and improving road conditions, can make driving feel easier, even as fatigue lingers beneath the surface.
When roads look clear and days feel brighter, it’s easy to lose focus on the task at hand. But fatigue doesn’t disappear just because the weather improves. “In fact, feeling ‘fine’ is often when drivers take more risks,” Acres says.
Fatigue reduces a driver’s ability to process and respond to critical driving information. It affects judgment of distance, speed, and timing. And it can make common spring hazards more dangerous, such as glare from low-angle sunlight, wet pavement, increased pedestrian and cyclist activity, and heavier traffic as people spend more time out and about.
In the run-up to the time change, experts suggest gradually altering your bedtime and wake-up times by 15 to 20 minutes per day, so you’re going to bed and getting up earlier. Exposure to sunlight can alleviate feelings of tiredness in the morning and help reorient your circadian rhythm. Avoid heavy meals, caffeine, and alcohol in the evening, and if you feel sleepy during the afternoons after the time change, take a nap but keep it short (20 minutes or less) to avoid feeling groggy when you wake up.
Road Safety at Work encourages drivers to treat the week following the time change as a high-risk period, not a one-day adjustment. That means prioritizing sleep, being honest about your alertness, and driving more cautiously even when conditions seem favourable.
Give yourself permission to take it slower, Acres says. “Getting to your destination safely is what matters.”