Springing the clocks ahead each March is more than a minor annoyance in Utah. State safety officials and sleep researchers say that lost hours deepen already chronic sleep debt, and the effects show up fast on the roads in the form of bumpier, riskier commutes.
Data compiled by the state's Zero Fatalities program show 1,105 crashes across Utah in the week after Daylight Saving Time in 2025, four of them fatal, with aggressive driving cited as a top contributing factor and teens the primary demographic, as reported by FOX13. "Those teens are maybe having a hard time getting out of bed in the morning," Jason Mettmann, communications manager for the Utah Highway Safety Office, told FOX13 about why younger drivers were overrepresented in those crashes.
National studies back up the spike
A wide-ranging analysis published in Current Biology found that fatal car crashes rise roughly 6% in the week after the spring "spring forward" transition, with the effect strongest toward the western edges of time zones. The paper examined more than 732,000 fatal crashes and concluded that the immediate post-DST week carries a measurable increase in deadly collisions.
How the lost hour affects bodies and brains
Sleep scientists say people cannot just reset their sleep like a clock. Circadian rhythms take days to re-entrain, and even brief sleep loss can degrade attention and reaction time. Evidence on heart attacks after the time change is mixed. Some studies have found a modest post-DST rise, while other, larger registry analyses have shown no clear change. For a balanced summary, see a recent review in Clocks & Sleep.
What safety officials advise
Local experts recommend a few practical steps to blunt the effect of the lost hour. Start winding down earlier in the nights before the switch, avoid driving when drowsy, and use short naps if needed. A 20-minute nap can help restore alertness without leaving you groggy afterward.
Those tips echo national guidance from AAA and federal health agencies. For example, AAA and the CDC/NIOSH advise extra caution during the first days after DST.
Teens, schools and morning commutes
Utah officials note the risk is not evenly distributed. Teens were the primary demographic in the Zero Fatalities tally, and state reporting has flagged teen crash involvement as an ongoing concern. UDOT's statewide fatality report also highlighted a worrying rise in teen fatalities in 2025, underscoring the importance of visible clothing, safe school routes and adjusted schedules. See UDOT for the latest figures.
Officials say practical steps can make a difference. Parents and employers should adjust schedules when possible, drivers should plan extra time and pull over for a short nap if they feel drowsy, and pedestrians should wear reflective gear on darker mornings. The bottom line from safety officials is simple: do not drive if you are struggling to stay awake.
