New York City officials have issued a warning to residents ahead of the end of Daylight Saving Time this weekend, cautioning that the streets will become increasingly treacherous as daylight fades earlier. The Department of Transportation and other city agencies are ramping up enforcement efforts to combat erratic, distracted, and dangerous driving.
As clocks fall back on Sunday, officials stress that the weeks following the time change are among the most hazardous on local roads due to reduced visibility. Visibility changes quickly during this period, making it even more crucial for drivers to slow down and pay attention.
The NYPD's "Dusk and Darkness" campaign is set to kick in once again, with a focus on late afternoons and evenings when pedestrians and cyclists are often less visible. Police will be targeting vehicles that block crosswalks, obstruct bike lanes, or fail to yield to vulnerable road users.
Commissioners from the Taxi and Limousine Commission and the Department of Transportation have also emphasized the importance of driving cautiously in the face of reduced visibility. "It takes up to 30 minutes for your eyes to adapt to darkness," said a city official. "The lower visibility reduces your reaction time, so you need to change your mindset when it's getting dark."
Despite a near-record low number of traffic deaths this year, officials remain vigilant and determined to keep drivers safe. The city has recorded 174 traffic deaths through October 19, which is a 16% decline from the same date last year.
As Halloween approaches and many families will be out trick-or-treating in the early evening hours, officials are urging drivers to exercise extra caution. "Look for pedestrians and look for cyclists," said Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. "Do your part – drive safely and go home safe."
As clocks fall back on Sunday, officials stress that the weeks following the time change are among the most hazardous on local roads due to reduced visibility. Visibility changes quickly during this period, making it even more crucial for drivers to slow down and pay attention.
The NYPD's "Dusk and Darkness" campaign is set to kick in once again, with a focus on late afternoons and evenings when pedestrians and cyclists are often less visible. Police will be targeting vehicles that block crosswalks, obstruct bike lanes, or fail to yield to vulnerable road users.
Commissioners from the Taxi and Limousine Commission and the Department of Transportation have also emphasized the importance of driving cautiously in the face of reduced visibility. "It takes up to 30 minutes for your eyes to adapt to darkness," said a city official. "The lower visibility reduces your reaction time, so you need to change your mindset when it's getting dark."
Despite a near-record low number of traffic deaths this year, officials remain vigilant and determined to keep drivers safe. The city has recorded 174 traffic deaths through October 19, which is a 16% decline from the same date last year.
As Halloween approaches and many families will be out trick-or-treating in the early evening hours, officials are urging drivers to exercise extra caution. "Look for pedestrians and look for cyclists," said Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. "Do your part – drive safely and go home safe."
As Daylight Saving Time ends, it's gonna get super dark & visibility is low, making driving a total challenge! 
30 mins for ur eyes 2 adapt? That's like, forever!!! 
So, let's all just take a deep breath, slow down, & stay vigilant out there! 
#StaySafeNYC #DuskAndDarkness #DriveAware
Can't believe they're saying it takes 30 mins for eyes to adapt, what's the rush? 
! Like, can't we just stick to one schedule already? 
It's crazy how it affects our driving habits, tbh 
. And now they're targeting drivers who block crosswalks or don't yield to cyclists... that's just harsh, fam 
. But for real, let's all just take it easy and drive safely, 'specially during Halloween when it's dark out 
. Safety first, fam! 
. i mean we all know how hard it is to focus on the road when there are kids running around in costumes or ppl blasting music lol, but seriously though, police are cranking up enforcement and u should def slow down and pay attention if u drive at night 
. its also a good reminder that our eyes take like 30 mins to adjust to darkness, so we gotta change our driving mindset when it gets dark 
that's a lot of time to slow down & be cautious on the roads 
don't wanna see any accidents with kids out trick-or-treating 
and pedestrians too 
let's all stay safe on the roads 
. and with halloween coming up, extra caution is a must, especially during those early evening hours when kids are out trick-or-treating 
... but I guess it makes sense. We need to slow down and pay attention, no matter what time of day it is. The numbers are looking good so far this year, though - that's definitely a win 
. But still, accidents can happen, so let's all just take a deep breath and drive safely, 'kay? 
but seriously, it takes like 30 mins for our eyes to adjust to darkness and it's super easy to get distracted or lose focus on the road. 
. its really easy to forget about everyone else when ur driving but u gotta be super aware of ur surroundings esp at night. 
. The NYPD's campaign is a great idea, and I hope people take it seriously 
. But we should all be aware of our surroundings, especially during late afternoons and evenings when pedestrians and cyclists are less visible 
. Halloween is just around the corner, so it's perfect timing for officials to remind us all to drive safely 
. dont even get me started on halloween traffic 
