By Flynn Demapendan
Every year in the U.S. on the first Sunday of November at 2 a.m., the clock falls back an hour. On the second Sunday of March at the same time, the clock moves forward one hour. The standard and practice of this is called Daylight Saving Time.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Daylight Saving Time originated in train schedules, then spread to Europe and the rest of the U.S. in an effort to save fuel and power during World War 1.
The practice of switching between Standard and Daylight Saving Time started when the Uniform Time Act of 1966 was passed, creating a reduction in energy consumption. The U.S. also decided to try a permanent Daylight Saving Time in 1974, which was a time of a mounting oil crisis. However, it ended later on in the year when the public voiced their dislike of dark mornings.
Now, at least 45 states have either passed or are currently considering the permanent shift to Daylight Saving Time. Additionally, the Senate passed the Sunshine Protection Act in 2022, which would have the U.S. in permanent Daylight Saving Time, though the bill has not yet received a vote in the House of Representatives.
Though the reasoning of having Daylight Saving Time has good intentions, the harm of the concept has weighed in more. According to studies that were conducted over the last 25 years, the change of the hour disrupts the rhythm of the human body.
Other studies show that there is an increase in car accidents when there is a loss of the extra hour of sleep, and there is a decline in robberies when there is an extra hour of sunlight. There is also a study that shows that people are more prone to suffer heart attacks at the beginning of Daylight Saving Time, but people are more likely to be happy with the extra hour of sunlight.
In most statements, the end of the double-changing clock and endorsement of a permanent Daylight Saving Time is not going to happen federally. Though more public and congressional action and attention have been shown for the topic over the years, there is still a lingering disagreement about policy changes that must be overcome.
Overall, the difference between having an extra hour or less hour of daylight varies. Depending on the people’s hobbies and wants, Daylight Saving Time is seen to be either a savior or enemy to people living in the U.S.
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