Daylight saving time ended on Sunday, November 1, and clocks across Indiana fell back an hour. Most of us noticed the brighter mornings. What’s easier to miss is that the evening commute now happens in the dark, and that shift has a real effect on safety. Daylight saving time accidents, especially ones involving people on foot, climb every fall.
At Keller & Keller, we’ve helped injured Hoosiers since 1936, and every year we see the same pattern. When the days get shorter, daylight saving time accidents go up and more people get hurt on the road after work. Here’s what the research says, and what you can do to protect yourself and your family.
What the Numbers Show
A 2025 study in the Journal of Safety Research looked at federal crash data from 2010 to 2019. In the five weeks after the fall time change, fatal crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists went up 13 percent. During the same weeks, fatal crashes among people inside vehicles actually dropped. In other words, the darker evenings hit people outside the car the hardest.
That fits with what safety experts have reported for years. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, drivers struck and killed 7,148 pedestrians across the United States in 2024. More than three quarters of pedestrian deaths happen after dark.
The problem is close to home, too. A local group called Indy Pedestrian Safety Crisis counted 41 pedestrian deaths in Indianapolis in 2024, as reported by Axios Indianapolis.
Why Daylight Saving Time Accidents Go Up
When the clocks fall back, the 5 p.m. rush hour suddenly happens at dusk or in full darkness. Drivers who are used to seeing people walking or biking home in daylight now have far less time to react. Add in tired drivers, wet leaves, early season snow, and glare from oncoming headlights, and it’s easy to see why crashes go up.
It doesn’t help that Indiana splits into two time zones. Most of the state is on Eastern time, but Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton, Jasper, and Starke counties in the northwest and Posey, Vanderburgh, Warrick, Gibson, Spencer, and Perry counties in the southwest are on Central time. If you drive across the state for work, your “daylight” schedule can change from one county to the next.
Safety Tips for Drivers
- Slow down in neighborhoods, near schools, and around bus stops, especially from 4 to 7 p.m.
- Clean your headlights and windshield, and make sure all your lights work
- Put the phone away. Even a quick glance at a text takes your eyes off a dark road
- Watch for people in crosswalks and at intersections when you turn
- Give yourself extra following distance on wet or icy roads
Safety Tips for Pedestrians and Cyclists
- Wear bright or reflective clothing, or clip a small light to your bag or jacket
- Cross at crosswalks and intersections whenever you can
- Make eye contact with drivers before you step into the street
- Use a front white light and a rear red light on your bike
- Keep your headphones low so you can hear traffic
What to Do After Daylight Saving Time Accidents
If you or someone you love is hurt in a crash, your health comes first. Call 911 and get medical care right away, even if you feel okay. Some injuries, like concussions and internal injuries, don’t show up until later.
If you can, take photos of the scene, the vehicles, and your injuries. Get the names and phone numbers of the driver and any witnesses, and ask for the police report number. Be careful about what you say to insurance companies before you talk to a lawyer. They may ask for a recorded statement or offer a quick settlement that doesn’t cover your medical bills and lost wages.
Timing matters, too. In Indiana, you generally have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. Indiana also uses a fault rule that can reduce or block what you recover if an insurance company claims you were partly to blame. That’s one more reason to get advice early.
How Keller & Keller Can Help
Our team handles pedestrian accidents, car and truck crashes, motorcycle accidents, and wrongful death cases across Indiana. We offer a free consultation, and we can meet at your home, at the hospital, or virtually. With our Zero Fee Guarantee, you don’t pay attorney fees unless we win your case.
If you were hurt in one of this fall’s daylight saving time accidents, call Keller & Keller at (317) 926-1111 or 1-800-253-5537. Your focus should be on getting better. Let us handle the rest.
This post is for general information only and isn’t legal advice. Every case is different. Statistics come from the Journal of Safety Research (2025), the Governors Highway Safety Association, and Axios Indianapolis.
