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PARKERSBURG — It’s that time of year again when daylight-saving ends and the clocks are turned back. Changes in sleep routine and the amount of daylight could impact both driver and pedestrian safety.

“While the extra hour of sleep may feel nice on Sunday morning, the time change can lead to greater risks behind the wheel,” said JJ Miller, safety advisor of AAA East Central. “The time change can affect concentration, attention and decision making, so motorists should take extra precautions in the weeks ahead to avoid putting pedestrians in harm’s way.”

It’s recommended to prepare for a shift in darker evening commutes and changes in sleep patterns.

Changes in sleep patterns could result in driving while fatigued which is a risk to pedestrians and motorists.

A press release from AAA East Central said researchers at Stanford University and Johns Hopkins University discovered the time change has effects on motorists that can last up to two weeks.

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The National Sleep Foundation reported sleep-deprived drivers cause more than 6,400 deaths and 50,000 debilitating injuries on the road annually.

The AAA East Central reminded drivers to drive without distractions, remember to use headlights, get plenty of rest before driving and watch out for pedestrians.

“We should take extra caution for trick or treaters this weekend,” said Belpre Volunteer Fire Department’s Assistant Fire Chief Jeff Rafferty. “Commuters who leave work at 5 p.m. may now drive home in full darkness, turn headlights on at 4:30 p.m. and check that auto-headlights are enabled and working.”

Belpre’s trick-or-treat is scheduled for tonight from 6-7:30 p.m. With many trick-or-treat events scheduled for the weekend, make sure to watch for pedestrians.

According to the AAA Traffic Safety Culture Index, “95% of motorists view drowsy driving as very or extremely dangerous, but 17% admitted to driving when they were so tired they had a hard time keeping their eyes open.”

Pedestrians are also advised to pay attention to crosswalks and intersections especially when it’s dark and visibility is more difficult. Avoid walking with distractions and don’t jaywalk, especially in the dark.

The end of daylight-savings is commonly the time when people replace the batteries of their smoke alarms.

The U.S. Forest Service said non-replaceable battery smoke alarms are good for about 10 years but others require new batteries every year. Change your clock, change your batteries.

Local fire departments like the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department offer assistance when it comes to checking and installing smoke detectors. Give your local fire department a call and see if they offer smoke detector installation and replacement assistance.