Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday, and people will be turning their clocks back one hour.   AAA Kansas is reminding motorists to be ready for sun glare during the morning drive times and reduced visibility with darker conditions during the evening commute.

The week of November 5th through 11th is Drowsy Driving Prevention Week.   AAA said the time change can disrupt sleep patterns, increasing the danger for drowsy driving and fatigue-related crashes.   Research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety estimated that 16 to 21 percent of all police-reported fatal crashes likely involve drowsy driving.

AAA Kansas spokesman Shawn Steward said in a press release that the time change will mean shorter days and longer nights, and drivers are urged to slow down, increase their following distance, and use headlights to make themselves more visible.   The research found that drivers who have slept for less than 5 hours have a crash risk comparable to someone driving drunk, and drivers who miss one to two hours of sleep can nearly double their risk of a crash.

AAA has tips to avoid drowsy driving:

• Travel at times of the day when they are normally awake.
• Avoid heavy foods.
• Avoid medications that cause drowsiness or other impairment.

• Schedule a break every two hours or every 100 miles.
• Travel with an alert passenger and take turns driving.
• Not underestimate the power of a quick nap. Pulling into a rest stop and taking a quick catnap — at least 20 minutes and no more than 30 minutes of sleep– can help to keep you alert on the road.