"We have been waking up to darkness," said PennDOT safety officer Robyn Briggs. "Now you're going to be waking up and it's going to be nicer. It's going to be lighter." She cautioned that might sound minor, but it definitely has an impact.
Jana Tidwell with AAA Mid-Atlantic likened it almost to jet lag. She said there are likely to be a lot more drowsy drivers out there for the next few days, and reminded people, "Drowsy driving is as dangerous as drunk driving."
While 95% of drivers acknowledge how dangerous drowsy driving can be, Tidwell shared, "About a third of those drivers admit to driving while drowsy, feeling their eyes beginning to close."
Briggs advised drivers to make sure they focus just a little bit more on the roads, which can be easier said than done.
"I think anytime your sleep is going to be disrupted in any way," Briggs said, "you can count on your body has to get used to it."
Eastern Standard Time officially begins at 2 a.m. Sunday, so set the clocks in your house and car back an hour before bed Saturday night. Your cell phone will take care of itself.
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