LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — As clocks “spring forward” to daylight saving time at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 13, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and Michigan Fitness Foundation (MFF) remind drivers to watch out for pedestrians, runners, and bicyclists always, but especially in low light conditions.
Sunrise will occur one hour later, meaning that it will be darker later in the morning.
“As the weather gets warmer, we anticipate more people getting out for some exercise and fresh air,” said Acting State Transportation Director Brad Wieferich. “Pedestrians, runners, and bicyclists should wear brighter, reflective clothing in order to be seen more easily, and those behind the wheel need to pay close attention and eliminate distractions while driving.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 6,236 pedestrians and 891 pedalcyclists (bicyclists and riders of two-wheel, nonmotorized vehicles, tricycles, and unicycles powered solely by pedals) died in traffic crashes in 2020. Preliminary data for 2021 suggest crashes involving pedestrians and pedalcyclists continues to increase and the overall crash trends should be concerning to all road users.
NHTSA’s data showed that most of the pedestrian fatalities (76 percent) and bicyclist fatalities (50 percent) occurred during dark conditions between 6 p.m. and 8:59 p.m. In Michigan, there were 149 pedestrian fatalities and 21 bicyclist fatalities in traffic crashes, with 81 percent pedestrian fatalities and 48 percent bicyclist fatalities involved in traffic crashes that occurred during low light or dark conditions.
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