an image of a nice clock showing daylight saving time

We might expect to feel a bit sleepy or maybe even a little ‘off.’ But springing forward or falling back an hour can have other surprising effects: It’s linked to changes in our health, diet and even tendency to get into an accident.” - Julianne Pepitone, NBC NewsĬhanging clocks twice a year provides no real benefit “Twice a year, switching between daylight saving time and standard time throws us off our usual routine. “Simply put, darkness kills - and darkness in the evening is far deadlier than darkness in the morning.” - Steve Caladrillo, MarketwatchĪdjusting to the time change can have negative health effects Permanently shifting daylight to the evening is safer Story continues Perspectives No more clock changes Despite increasing support from representatives in other states and even former President Donald Trump, the bills have not moved forward. Marco Rubio has established something of an annual tradition of introducing a bill that would make daylight saving time permanent nationwide that has the backing of a small bipartisan coalition in the Senate. One of the things holding back changes is concern over confusion that would arise if some states observed daylight saving time while others didn't. Others argue that the current system is best, since it provides more light during waking hours in the summer without forcing workers and schoolchildren to begin their days in darkness when daylight hours shrink in the winter. Why there’s debateĪdvocates for eliminating daylight saving time, or making it permanent, say that the supposed advantages of energy savings and benefits to farmers are either unproven or outweighed by the drawbacks of switching clocks twice a year. States can, however, choose to forgo daylight saving time and keep the “fall back” schedule all year if they want to, which is what Arizona and Hawaii do.

A number of states including California, Florida, Washington and Oregon have taken legislative steps to do just that, but an act of Congress would be needed for any of those changes to go into effect. Most of the momentum is behind a movement to make daylight saving time permanent so the “spring forward” lasts all year long.

The practice started in the United States as a way to save energy during World War I but wasn’t made a national standard until the 1960s.Ī push to end the semiannual clock shift, which has been shown to correlate with negative health and productivity outcomes, has gained steam throughout the country in recent years. In November clocks “fall back” to return to what is commonly called standard time. On Sunday, most Americans will observe the twice-yearly tradition of adjusting their clocks by an hour to accommodate daylight saving time.Įach March all states other than Arizona and Hawaii “spring forward” to shift an hour of daylight from the morning into the evening, when it will theoretically be utilized by more people.

An image of a nice clock showing daylight saving time