Fall back: Set the clocks to standard time this weekend

<br>WASHINGTON (AP) _ Darkness will slip in an hour earlier by the clock starting Sunday as the nation returns to standard time. <br><br>With the change coming just days before youngsters go out on their

Thursday, October 25th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Darkness will slip in an hour earlier by the clock starting Sunday as the nation returns to standard time.

With the change coming just days before youngsters go out on their Halloween rounds, safety officials urge extra caution by drivers and pedestrians.

For one night, the shift will give people an extra hour of sleep as clocks are set back one hour at 2 a.m. Sunday, local time.

It also means this is the weekend some people get stuck working an extra hour _ factory workers on the overnight shift, all-night convenience store clerks, bartenders, police.

For most people, it simply means having to remember to set the clock back an hour _ that's right, fall back _ before retiring Saturday night.

Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta, whose department is in charge of the time change, issued a reminder that this is also a good time to change the batteries in smoke detectors.

Daylight-saving time returns April 7.