Exploring US Daylight Saving Time: When Clocks Change and Its Creation

 

As we set our clocks back on November 5th, daylight saving time bids adieu for the year, with different countries performing this time-twisting ritual at their own pace, much like a choreographed dance in the world of timekeeping.

As we approach November 5th, countries like the United States, Canada, and Cuba are getting ready to do that annual ritual of turning their clocks back by an hour as daylight saving time bids us farewell for the year. This event has reignited a familiar and enduring debate in the United States about whether it is time to bid adieu to this practice for good. Daylight saving time, often abbreviated as DST, has consistently been a topic that stirs up differing opinions and emotions. To truly grasp the essence of this debate, it is vital to delve into the origins of DST, the impacts it has, and the arguments for and against its perpetuation.

Without putting it in so many words, daylight saving time (DST) is a practice that involves moving clocks forward by one hour during the summer months to extend daylight into the evening. While it is widely adopted in North America and Europe, many countries, especially those closer to the equator, do not follow this custom. This dichotomy in its adoption illustrates the polarizing nature of DST. Notably, the adoption and rejection of DST have occurred multiple times in various countries, reflecting its controversial nature. For example, Egypt re-introduced it after a seven-year hiatus to rationalize energy consumption, while Japan contemplated adopting it for the 2020 Olympics but ultimately abandoned the idea due to lack of popular support and technical challenges.

In 2023, daylight saving time in the United States and some neighboring countries will conclude on November 5th at 2 a.m. local time, marking the transition back to standard time and pushing clocks back by one hour. In contrast, the United Kingdom and other European countries ended daylight saving time, also known as summer time, on October 29th. It is noteworthy that DST typically starts on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November in the United States. This contrasts with the UK and the European Union, where summer time begins on the last Sunday in March and ends on the last Sunday in October.

The modern concept of adjusting clocks with the changing seasons can be traced back to the late 19th century when George Hudson, a New Zealand entomologist, proposed the idea as a means to conserve energy and extend summer daylight hours. Hudson's personal interest in collecting insects after work likely influenced his proposal. However, this idea gained traction during World War I when European states sought ways to conserve fuel. Germany became the first country to adopt DST in 1916, followed by the United States in 1918. The practice of DST underwent various iterations before it was standardized in the United States in 1966 through the Uniform Time Act. This act allowed states to opt out of DST but did not permit them to remain on DST permanently. Contrary to a common myth, the adoption of DST was not primarily intended to benefit farmers; in fact, many farmers have opposed it for its disruptive effects on their schedules. The original rationale for conserving fuel through DST is also subject to debate, as studies have shown minimal, if any, energy savings resulting from the shift, according to the Congressional Research Service.

Opponents of DST highlight other studies that have linked DST to adverse health effects, such as an increase in fatal traffic accidents, heart attacks, strokes, and sleep deprivation in the days following the one-hour clock adjustment every March. These concerns have raised questions about the true benefits of continuing the practice. In March 2023 YouGov, a  market research and opinion polling firm, revealed in one of its poll  that 62% of Americans are in favor of ending the practice of changing clocks, although only 50% prefer to adopt permanent DST.

To put it plainly,  DST has been a longstanding practice with a contentious history, characterized by debates about its efficacy, impact, and relevance. While its origins can be traced back to efforts to conserve energy and extend daylight hours, modern research suggests that its benefits may be less substantial than originally believed. Concerns about health effects and disruptions to daily life have fueled the ongoing debate over the necessity of DST. As countries like the United States grapple with this issue, they must carefully weigh the arguments for and against continuing daylight saving time to make informed decisions about its future.

Clock Wars Comedy

The practice of Daylight Saving Time (DST) in the United States is also a subject of ongoing debate and contention, with variations in its observance across different states and territories. Hawaii and Arizona have consistently refrained from participating in DST, although an exception in Arizona is the Navajo Nation, which observes DST. Additionally, several U.S. territories, including American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, have opted out of DST and adhere to permanent standard time throughout the year. Despite these variations, DST remains prevalent across much of the country, with clocks set forward by an hour in the spring and set back in the fall.

The future of DST in the United States is uncertain. Notably, 19 states have passed legislation that would allow them to adopt permanent DST if granted congressional approval, as reported by the National Conference of State Legislatures. This demonstrates a growing interest in exploring alternatives to the biannual clock changes and the potential benefits of having a consistent time throughout the year.

A significant development in the ongoing DST debate is the Sunshine Protection Act, introduced by a bipartisan group of senators in 2022. This bill aimed to make DST permanent nationwide and received unanimous support through a voice vote in the Senate, indicating a strong desire for change among lawmakers. However, the bill faced obstacles in the U.S. House of Representatives, primarily due to disagreements among lawmakers about whether to stick with standard time or adopt permanent DST. Representative Frank Pallone highlighted this division in March, underscoring the complexities involved in changing a long-standing practice deeply ingrained in American society.

In the current legislative session, the same group of senators has reintroduced the Sunshine Protection Act. The bill has been referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation for review, signaling continued efforts to address the issue. For the Sunshine Protection Act or any similar legislation to become law, it must successfully pass both the Senate and the House of Representatives before being signed by President Joe Biden. Thus, while the debate about the future of DST time persists, it remains uncertain when or if the United States will ultimately decide to make any significant changes to this long-standing practice.

The debate over daylight saving time reflects the complexity of balancing tradition with potential benefits. Supporters argue that making DST permanent could lead to energy savings, reduced health risks, and improved overall well-being. On the other hand, opponents raise concerns about potential disruptions to daily routines, adverse impacts on sleep patterns, and logistical challenges, particularly in regions close to time zone boundaries.

The bottom line: the observance of DST in the United States is marked by variations across states and territories, with ongoing discussions about its future. While some states have taken steps to adopt permanent DST, the fate of this practice at the federal level remains uncertain. The reintroduction of the Sunshine Protection Act in the current legislative session indicates that the debate is far from over, and the United States may still see changes to its approach to daylight saving time in the years to come.

 

 

 

 

Notes

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Daylight Time. (n.d.). Retrieved 11 4, 2023, from United States Naval Observatory: http://aa.usno.navy.mil/faq/docs/daylight_time.php

Douma, M. (2008). Daylight Saving Time — When do we change our clocks? Retrieved 11 4, 2023, from Institute for Dynamic Educational Advancement: http://webexhibits.org/daylightsaving/b.html

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No daylight saving this summer: Egypt's prime minister. (n.d.). Retrieved 11 4, 2023, from http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/128195/Egypt/Politics-/No-daylight-saving-this-summer-Egypts-prime-minist.aspx

Ratain, M. J. (2014). Forecasting Unanticipated Consequences of “The Sunshine Act”: Mostly Cloudy. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 32(22), 2293-2295. Retrieved 11 4, 2023, from https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24934789

Satran, J. (n.d.). The Man Who Invented Daylight Savings Time. Retrieved 11 4, 2023, from AOL Inc.: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/09/daylight-savings-time-history-george-vernon-hudson_n_1333378.html

Solly, M. (2022, March 16). What Happened the Last Time the U.S. Tried to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent? Retrieved from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/what-happened-the-last-time-the-us-tried-to-make-daylight-saving-time-permanent-180979742/

Stoddard, C. (2023). Daylight Saving Time 2023: What’s the Status of the Sunshine Protection Act? Retrieved from Fox News - Weather: https://www.foxweather.com/lifestyle/daylight-saving-time-2023-sunshine-protection-act-status