Detroit ? Our watches and wall clocks will be springing forward Sunday with daylight saving time, but our biological clocks will be lagging behind.

That could mean drowsier drivers hitting the road Monday, some sleep researchers say. Police statistics requested by the Detroit Free Press confirm that the Mondays after the springtime change are worse than usual for traffic crashes.

According to State Police vehicle accident numbers for 2002-06, the Mondays after the switch to daylight saving time were worse compared to an average day that month and for an average Monday. The Monday after the time change averaged 1,397 crashes. An average day that month had about 840 accidents and an average Monday had about 1,022 crashes.

There were more injuries but fewer fatalities than normal, said Pietro Semifero of the State Police’s Office of Highway Safety Planning.

While State Police officials emphasize that it’s unclear why the number of accidents rose – bad weather, for example, could have been a factor – they acknowledge tired motorists could have played a role.