As time falls back Sunday, DOT urges precautionary measures for motorists and pedestrians
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on November 3, 2017 2:41 PM
People will get to enjoy an extra hour of rest as Saturday turns to Sunday this weekend when clocks fall back an hour at 2 a.m. Sunday.
But the North Carolina Department of Transportation is urging pedestrians and motorists alike to adopt several precautionary measures, as most evening activities will now be done in the dark.
The agency is telling drivers to:
• Make sure vehicle headlights are on.
• Keep an eye out for pedestrians, cyclists and deer.
• Protect eyes from glare by allowing them to adapt to darkness before driving.
• Adjust the rearview mirror to the "night" setting to avoid headlight glare.
• Make sure headlights and windshield (including the inside) are cleaned off and clear.
• Check headlights to ensure they are properly aimed. If pointing the wrong way, they can blind others on the road and reduce your ability to see where you are going.
• If driving east in the morning or west in the afternoon, allow extra travel time as sun glare may be an issue.
• Take off sunglasses as dusk approaches.
• Slow down and leave more space between your vehicle and the one in front of you.
• Switch to low beams when approaching a driver, cyclist or pedestrian.
• Look down and toward the right edge of the road if blinded by light from an oncoming vehicle.
The agency recommends pedestrians and cyclists follow these guidelines:
• Walk facing traffic to see oncoming vehicles.
• Ride bikes in the same direction as vehicles.
• Wear brightly-colored, reflective or fluorescent clothing.
• Carry a light and place reflective strips on items you may carry.
• Look right and left when crossing at a traffic signal.
• Avoid jaywalking and crossing a road between parked vehicles.
The time will change again when clocks spring forward an hour on Sunday March 11, 2018.