Daylight saving time reduces traffic accidents.

the verdict

INSUFFICIENT LEANING

Recorded sources

7 sources for · 0 against

Counts group repeated records of the same source within each side. They do not measure evidence strength or source independence.

Is it true that daylight saving time reduces traffic accidents?

Unclear. Several studies from single countries and periods (Chile, Mexico, the 1970s US) report modest reductions in traffic accidents under daylight saving time, and a 2026 systematic review associates summer DST with fewer traffic accidents. However, the review also links DST-onset transitions to more fatal accidents, and no source settles the general claim outright.

Verdict: PARTIAL LEAN · 7 sources for, 0 against · Last checked 16 Oct 2026

The private library was unavailable for some searches in this check. Missing library results are not evidence against the claim.

Evidence for · 7

Daylight saving time

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Daylight saving time. (n.d.). en.wikipedia.org. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daylight_saving_time

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More for · 6

Daylight Saving Time and Automobile Accidents: Evidence From Chile

2025

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Gillmore, R. (2025). Daylight Saving Time and Automobile Accidents: Evidence From Chile. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1002/hec.4936

The influence of daylight saving time on motor vehicle fatal traffic accidents

1978

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The influence of daylight saving time on motor vehicle fatal traffic accidents. (1978). doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1016/0001-4575(78)90012-x

The unexpected effects of daylight-saving time: Traffic accidents in Mexican municipalities

2022

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The unexpected effects of daylight-saving time: Traffic accidents in Mexican municipalities. (2022). doi.org. https://doi.org/10.18381/eq.v20i1.7268

What are the scientifically established effects of Daylight Saving Time?

2011

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What are the scientifically established effects of Daylight Saving Time?. (2011). skeptics.stackexchange.com. https://skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/830/what-are-the-scientifically-established-effects-of-daylight-saving-time

Why is Daylight saving time (DST) still used in so many Western countries?

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Why is Daylight saving time (DST) still used in so many Western countries?. (n.d.). politics.stackexchange.com. https://politics.stackexchange.com/questions/25819

A systematic review of epidemiological studies into daylight-saving time & health identifying beneficial & adverse effects.

2026

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A, S., JP, W., U, W., L, B., B, B., GS, L., S, F., RG, F., J, W., G, M., TC, E., & P, L. (2026). A systematic review of epidemiological studies into daylight-saving time & health identifying beneficial & adverse effects.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-026-01372-8

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receipt_updated17 Oct 2026

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