This is what it would be like if we all stopped turning our clocks back and forth every spring and fall.
You already know about daylight saving time (DST) as the time change that robs us of an hour of sleep at nightFeder, and gives us an extra hour each fall. In 2022 we jump forward on Sunday, March 13th and we will be on Sunday, November 6th (Dec.The time changes at 2 am.).
you might be wonderingwhy do we have summer time, but what you might not know is that it was first implemented in Thunder Bay, Canada in 1908 to preserve daylight during the winter months. Daylight saving time was later introduced by Germany in 1916 during World War I to reduce energy costs, followed by several European countries. The practice of daylight saving time was introduced in the United States in 1918 as part of the Standard Time Act passed by Congress. Today, about 70 countries around the world use daylight saving time. But there are moves inside and outside the country to change that, which could lead to a future without daylight saving time.
Is daylight saving time ending?
They existtwo states in the united stateswho decided against DST decades ago - but since then more changes have taken place across the United States.
In March 2022, the Senate unanimously voted in favor of the Sun Protection Act, a bill that would make daylight saving time permanent. Don't stop turning the clock just yet! Just because the Sun Protection Act passed the Senate does not mean the law will go into effect. The bill has not yet been approved in the Chamber of Deputies, where progress is stalled. If passed in the House of Representatives, President Biden could sign it. If the law becomes law, it will go into effect in November 2023. So no, Daylight Saving Time isn't ending – not yet!
These movements are not unique to the United States. In 2018, the Parliament of the European Union voted to abolish the half-yearly time change; however, negotiations have not yet started in the Council of the EU. So what would it look like if we all stopped changing our watches?
Why do people want to abolish daylight saving time?
We all know that the day we switch to daylight saving time is one of the weirdest days of spring. Losing an hour of sleep during the night - what could be worse? Accidents and medical emergencies mount the hectic morning after, prompting many to advocate ending Daylight Saving Time so we don't have to change our clocks. Here are the most common reasons why people want to get rid of Daylight Savings Time.
sleep better
Whether you set the clock back or forward can have a negative impact on a person's circadian rhythm. It can take your body five to seven days to adjust to the new schedule, reports the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, and disrupting your sleep can lead to even greater health problems.
Reduced risk of heart problems
Research has found that daylight saving time is associated with a 24% increase in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) on the Monday after the changeover, and changing our clocks can increase the risk of heart attacks. Although the research did not indicatewhyThis could be because those who were most at risk were mostly people who were already predisposed to heart problems. However, if ending DST could reduce the risk, more lives could be saved.
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Reduced risk of stroke
Likewise, the survey found an increase in stroke hospitalizations in the two days following Daylight Saving Time, with the overall rate of ischemic stroke during those days being 8% higher than at any other time of year. The American Academy of Neurology speculates that this may be due to the disruption in the circadian rhythm caused by daylight saving time, as previous studies have shown that it may play a role in increasing a person's risk of stroke.
cost savings
"A big disadvantage of daylight saving time is that it's very expensive for businesses because business hours and operations have to adjust each spring," said Liz Brown, founder of Sleeping Lucid. In fact, experts estimate that the biannual time change costs the United States about $430 million a year. The increase in heart attacks and injuries in the workplace and reduced productivity are factored into the overall cost.
Fewer car accidents
Daylight saving time has also been linked to an increase in fatal traffic accidents, particularly on the Monday after the spring shift. These car accidents are believed to be caused by tired drivers losing an hour of sleep after the spring shift. If ending daylight saving time can reduce the number of fatal accidents, that's certainly an advantage.
religious dilemmas
While there is plenty of research demonstrating the health and cost savings of ending Daylight Saving Time, it's worth noting that there are some who would suffer negatively if we stopped changing our clocks. “Jews and religious Muslims attend daily prayer services in their synagogues and mosques based on sunrise and sunset,” says Rabbi Moshe Davis of Brith Sholom Beth Israel in Charleston, South Carolina. "When daylight saving time is abolished, it will be almost impossible for these religious people in some parts of the country to attend prayer services in the morning and then get to work on time."
changing crime rate
Another consideration to keep in mind about Daylight Saving Time is how it affects crime rates. The research found that by extending daylight hours into the night, as we do during the spring, crime rates actually go down, with burglaries down 7% from the day before and overall crime down 27% in the extra hour of the night with the sunlight gained that day. However, another study found that with the fall time-of-day loss, attack rates increased by 3% on the Monday after the time change.
Daylight Saving Time vs Winter Time: Which Is Better?
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One of the many questions surrounding the elimination of DST is whether it is better to stick with DST or Standard Time. “Different countries, climates, time zones and power grids often have competing arguments for more daylight in the early morning versus more daylight in the evening,” says Baron Christopher Hanson of Red Baron Consulting, who advocates for clocks that set and keep daylight saving time there.
"The rationale for keeping Daylight Saving Time a permanent part of the US way of life is that it greatly benefits health, the outdoors, tourism, the culinary industry, and especially our huge investments in golf, tennis and parks and recreation." ", he says. "Longer daylight hours allow outdoor restaurants, golf courses, parks and patios or rooftop bars to see the sunset well after happy hour and dinner time, instead of force everyone into the gloomy darkness just before 5 pm Business hours are ending.
But Hanson isn't all about tourism and being able to enjoy the outdoors. “Early darkness also leads to depression, less outdoor activity and poor health – especially in the winter months.”
For Hanson, it boils down to one simple question: "Why turn off God's beautiful, natural light sooner, when every day of the year can easily be extended for everyone in America to enjoy?"
While there seems to be some debate about making DST permanent and ending time changes, most states will still be turning their clocks back and forth for the foreseeable future. If you are having trouble adjusting to the times, thisTop sleep products on Amazoncan help catch Zzz's and wake up more easily.
Origins:
- rubio.senate.gov: „Rubio and colleagues reintroduce bill to make daylight saving time permanent„
- The Florida Senate: "HB 1013: Daylight Saving Time„
- American Academy of Medicine do Sono: "Health advice: summer time„
- BMJ Journals, Interventional Cardiology: „STD and myocardial infarction„
- American Heart Association: "Can Daylight Saving Time Harm Your Heart? Get ready for spring now„
- sleeping remedy: „Changes in the occurrence of ischemic stroke after switching to daylight saving time„
- American Academy of Neurology: "Does daylight saving time increase the risk of stroke?„
- Liz Brown, founder ofit lasts lucidly
- sleeping remedy: „Fatal crashes after daylight saving time: the American experience„
- Rabbi Moshe Davis,Brith Sholom Beth Israel
- Journal of Experimental Criminology: „Aggression and sleep: A natural daylight saving time experiment on the effect of mild sleep loss and gain on aggression„
- Baron Christopher Hanson,Red Baron Advice
FAQs
What would happen if we stopped daylight savings? ›
Changing crime rates
Research has found that by extending evening daylight hours, as we do in the spring, crime rates actually go down, with robberies being reduced by 7% from the day before, and overall crime going down by 27% in the additional evening hour of sunlight gained on that day.
Making the time change permanent would make the chronic effects of any sleep loss more severe, not only “because we have to go to work an hour earlier for an additional 5 months every year but also because body clocks are usually later in winter than in summer with reference to the sun clock,” according to a statement ...
Why should we abolish Daylight Saving Time? ›It no longer serves its intended purpose of saving electricity, and DST negatively impacts our health, is overly complicated, costs us money, and puts our most vulnerable populations at risk.
Why Do We Still Need Daylight Saving Time? ›The main purpose of Daylight Saving Time (called "Summer Time" in many places in the world) is to make better use of daylight. We change our clocks during the summer months to move an hour of daylight from the morning to the evening.
How will no daylight savings affect us? ›If daylight saving time were abolished nationwide, it would eliminate the inconsistencies in timing tied to the fact that not all states implement DST. Productivity may increase for a bit, at least offsetting the impact of workers who forget about the time change.
Who benefits from daylight savings time? ›Daylight Saving Time's (DST) longer daylight hours promote safety. Also, daylight in the evening makes it safer for joggers, people walking dogs after work, and children playing outside, among others, because drivers are able to see people more easily and criminal activity is lowered.
Which is better daylight savings or standard? ›Although it will get darker earlier, sleep experts say standard time follows a natural pattern and will provide greater health benefits by providing light in the morning and supporting melatonin levels. “The healthiest choice would be on permeant standard time all year round,” said Dr.
Who opposes permanent daylight savings time? ›American Academy of Sleep Medicine continues to oppose permanent daylight saving time bill.