MDOT and OHSP reminder: Be alert and safe as clocks 'fall back' on Sunday

LANSING, Mich. - When the ghosts, goblins, vampires, witches and zombies return home on Halloween night, the clocks will "fall back" to standard time on Sunday, Nov. 1, causing a fright when we lose light one hour earlier. However, it doesn't have to be a spooky sight since the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Michigan State Police Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) are reminding drivers to be on the lookout for people traveling on foot or rolling, like on a bicycle, wheelchair, skateboard or other personal device. Motorists also should allow a minimum 3-foot distance when passing a bicyclist, according to state law.

"Road users need to be alert and eliminate distractions, slow down and fully focus on getting to their destination safely. People traveling on foot or rolling are encouraged to wear brighter-colored clothing with reflective material to enhance visibility," said State Transportation Director Bradley C. Wieferich. "As a reminder, under the distracted driving law, it is illegal to manually use a cell phone or other mobile electronic device while operating a vehicle on Michigan roads. Under the law, a driver cannot hold or support a phone or other device with any part of their hands, arms or shoulders."

Research from the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute confirms that pedestrians are more at risk of serious injury from a motor vehicle crash in the weeks following a return to standard time. The most dangerous time is the first hour of darkness.

OHSP Director Alicia Sledge added that as we transition out of daylight saving time, it's critical for drivers to recognize how reduced lighting can impact visibility and reaction time.

"The earlier onset of darkness creates additional risks for pedestrians and bicyclists, particularly during peak travel hours," Sledge said. "OHSP is proud to be part of the ongoing effort to make Michigan's roads safer for everyone. We encourage all motorists to stay alert, slow down, use extra caution around pedestrians and bicyclists, and eliminate distractions. Every driver has a role to play in preventing crashes and saving lives."

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 7,080 pedestrians and 1,103 pedalcyclists (bicyclists and riders of other nonmotorized vehicles powered solely by pedals) died in traffic crashes in 2024.

A 2025 pedestrian crash report from the Michigan Traffic Crash Facts (MTCF) website stated that 2,321 pedestrians were involved in crashes in Michigan, resulting in 184 killed and 1,810 injured. Most pedestrian-involved crashes occurred between 5 and 5:59 p.m. (163, or 8 percent).

MTCF's 2025 bicyclist crash report showed that 35 people were killed and 1,763 injured. The peak hour for bicyclist-involved crashes in the state was between 4 and 4:59 p.m., with 205 bicyclists involved. The peak hour for bicyclist fatalities was between 7 and 7:59 a.m., with five bicyclist fatalities.

MDOT continues to work with partners statewide on the Toward Zero Deaths (TZD) safety campaign based on the National Strategy on Highway Safety, intended to influence driver behavior and improve safety. For more information on the TZD campaign, visit Michigan.gov/ZeroDeaths.

MDOT and the League of Michigan Bicyclists have more information available online about pedestrian and bicycle safety.