The dreaded time has come for many of us when we go to work in the dark and we leave work in the dark.

Sunday marks the end of daylight saving time for this year, as we move clocks one hour back at 2 am.  The extra hour of daylight in the evening won’t show its shine until March 11, 2018.

That hour of daylight we lose in the evening means drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians need to pay extra attention while traveling along the road. For the darken commute home, below are tips to help keep you and others safe in the changing conditions.

For Drivers

~Make sure your vehicle headlights are on;
 ~Keep an eye out for pedestrians, cyclists, and deer;
~Protect your eyes from glare by allowing them to adapt to darkness before driving;
~Adjust the rearview mirror to the “night” setting to avoid headlight glare;
~Make sure your headlights and windshield (including the inside) are cleaned off and clear;
~Check your headlights to ensure they are properly aimed  (If pointing the wrong way, they can blind others on the road and reduce your     ability to see where you are going);
~If driving east in the morning or west in the afternoon, allow extra travel time, as you may deal with sun glare;
~Take off sunglasses as dusk approaches;
~Slow down and leave more space between your vehicle and the one in front of you;
~Switch to low beams when approaching a driver, cyclist or pedestrian; and
~Look down and toward the right edge of the road if you are blinded by light from an oncoming vehicle.

For Pedestrians and Cyclists

~Walk facing traffic to see oncoming vehicles;
~Ride bikes in the same direction as  vehicles;
~Wear brightly-colored, reflective, or fluorescent clothing;
 ~Carry a light and place reflective strips on items you may carry;
~Look right and left when crossing at a traffic signal; and
~Avoid jaywalking and crossing a road between parked vehicles.

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