Long-term effects of daylight saving time on driving fatigue

The study of the relationship between Daylight Saving Time (DST) and road safety has yielded contrasting results, most likely in relation to the inability of crash-database approaches to unravel positive (ambient lighting-related) and negative (circadian/sleep-related) effects, and to significant geographical differences in lighting-related effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of DST on driving fatigue, as measured by driving-based, physiological and subjective indicators obtained from a driving simulator experiment. Thirty-seven participants (73 % males, 23 ± 2 years) completed a series of 50-min trials in a monotonous highway environment: Trial 1 was in the week prior to the Spring DST transition, Trial 2 in the following week, and Trial 3 in the fourth week after the transition. Thirteen participants returned for Trial 4, in the week prior to the Autumn switch to civil time, and Trial 5 in the following week. Significant adverse effects of DST on vehicle lateral control and eyelid closure were documented in Trial 2 and Trial 3 compared to Trial 1, with no statistical differences between Trials 2 and 3. Further worsening in vehicle lateral control was documented in Trials 4 and 5. Eyelid closure worsened up to Trial 4, and improved in Trial 5. Participants were unaware of their worsening performance based on subjective indicators. In conclusion, DST has a detrimental impact on driving fatigue during the whole time during which it is in place. Such an impact is comparable, for example, to that associated with driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.5 g/L.