Remember to fall back Sunday as Daylight Saving Time ends
By Lone Sheep Publishing
The Daylight Savings Time fall dance is happening again, despite promise by the BC Government to end switch from daylight saving time to a “pacific standard time,” with the western states of Washington State, Oregon and California.
In 2019, 93 percent of respondents to an online survey about scrapping the season time changes agreed to halt the twice annual changing of the clocks in the March and November.
However, despite talk of the aligning with the western states, most BC residents will set their clocks back one hour at 2 a.m. Sunday, November 7, 2021.
Not everyone is following the tradition
In 2020, Yukon changed time for the last time when clocks sprung forward to daylight saving time on March 8.
Other spot not changing include most of Saskatchewan, parts of Eastern Quebec, the Southhampton Island in Nunavut, as well as parts of Ontario and BC — including Creston, Fort. St. John, Dawson Creek, Charlie Lake and Taylor.
Canada Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 a.m. local time on the second Sunday in March. Time zone names and abbreviations in Canada change during Daylight Saving Time. Eastern Standard Time (EST) becomes Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), and so forth with each time zone.
There are hazards associated with the time change every year, even with the extra hour of sleep.
“Collisions throughout the month of October to January almost double for the number of pedestrians that are injured in crashes,” said an ICBC spokesperson. “So yes, that could be partially attributed to daylight savings time.”
Today, more than 70 countries and one-fifth of the world’s seven billion people take part in daylight time.
Tips on a smooth transition
Here are ICBC’s top tips to help drivers deal with the fall time change and the shorter days.
- Always be on the lookout for pedestrians and cyclists – especially at intersections and near transit stops where pedestrians will be coming and going and may not use crosswalks. Crashes involving pedestrians spike in the fall and winter months.
- Prepare your vehicle for the change in weather. Clean your vehicle’s headlights and rear lights and check they’re all working properly. Keep your windshield, windows and mirrors clear. Remove leaves from your vehicle. Make sure you have enough windshield wiper fluid and that your wipers are in good condition.
- Keep your regular sleep/wake cycle. Go to bed at the same time you normally would, so you can benefit from that extra hour of sleep. Don’t assume you are more rested and alert on the road the mornings following the time change as it can impact the quality of your sleep and affect your body’s internal clock.
- As the weather changes and daylight hours decrease, pedestrians become increasingly vulnerable. ICBC reminds pedestrians to always make eye contact with drivers and never assume that a driver has seen you.
- So set those clocks back one hour before going to sleep Saturday night as changing clocks twice a year appears to be the norm for the next while.
Bell Jumps the Time Change
Last Sunday before the clocks will be falling back, some Bell customers woke up to an incorrect time change on their phones. Some people wondered if the error was related to daylight saving time, but the company did not confirm that theory.
