The time has come to pull the plug on Daylight Saving Time: Health problems, crashes and more reasons to end it
It’s time to sunset Daylight Saving Time.
The annual ritual of turning the clock ahead in March — spring forward — and returning to Standard Time in early November — fall back — is upon us. Early Sunday, clocks went from 1:59 a.m. to 3 a.m., in case you slept through it and are wondering why everything seems an hour off today.
That “lost” time is only official, as there are still the same number of hours in the day, week, month and year. But the goal of Daylight Saving (no s) Time is to save money on energy — there is no clear evidence it does to any significant degree — and encourage more business in the evening hours of spring, summer and early fall. That is also up for debate.
The idea was first raised by Ben Franklin in the late 18th century as a way to save on candles, although he did so in a light-hearted manner. It was used in Canada in 1908 and then by both sides during World War I. The USA joined the crowd for a few months in 1918 (commemorated by the U.S. Senate clock being changed that year, as seen in the above public domain photo posted on wikimedia commons).
It returned in World War II, with President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaiming “War Time” from 1942-45. Some states retained it, while others did not, creating a great deal of confusion.
A federal standard was established in 1967. It has been amended several times, with the period being extended. From 1973-75, it was year-round. Finally, it was set as starting on the second Sunday in March and ending on the first Sunday in November.
DST is more than an annoying inconvenience for many people. Studies are showing a serious, even deadly impact linked to the time change.
Our natural sleep-wake cycle is disrupted, and enough of us have trouble getting a good night’s sleep as it is. That alters body temperature, hormone release and overall alertness.
That may explain an uptick in traffic crashes during the week after both time changes.
Studies from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety indicate crashes increase in the spring and fall, with the switch to Daylight Saving Time in March placing tired, distracted drivers on the road. In the fall, drivers are forced to deal with glare, shadows and darkness.
The American Heart Association said there is clear evidence of an increase in heart attacks and strokes in the days following the time changes. Workplace accidents also are more common.
“By causing the human body clock to be misaligned with the natural environment, Daylight Saving Time increases risks to our physical health, mental well-being, and public safety,” said Dr. Muhammed Adeel Rishi, lead author of a position paper published in the “Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.” “Permanent standard time is the optimal choice for health and safety.”
President Donald Trump, who has endorsed DST in the past, is now calling for its abolition, as is his most powerful and public advisor, Elon Musk. Hey, even a stopped clock is right twice a day.
Polls show a majority of Americans agree with them. They want one time all year, and favor putting an end to cutting one end of a blanket and sewing it on the other to supposedly extend it.
I hope this is the final year of DST. Let’s move to Standard Time in 2025 and give our bodies and clocks a break.
Fourth-generation South Dakotan Tom Lawrence has written for several newspapers and websites in South Dakota and other states for four decades. He has contributed to The New York Times, NPR, The London Telegraph, The Daily Beast and other media outlets. Do not republish without permission.
