The Case For Daylight Saving Time Continuing Year-Round

Sunset time will be at 4:48 p.m. today, Eastern Standard Time.

We will continue to lose one minute of afternoon/early evening daylight each day through December 21, 2021.

If we stayed with Daylight Saving Time, we would have an additional hour of daylight during busy afternoon/early evening drive time.

I have long believed that we should stay with Daylight Saving Time all year round.

Why “spring forward” and then “fall back” and set our clocks behind by one hour?

Daylight Saving Time was first implemented during World War I to save coal.

So, there you have it. Daylight Saving Time saves money.

I also contend that Daylight Saving Time can also save lives. That’s even more important.

Traffic crash statistics clearly show that more accidents occur in darkness versus daylight. Pedestrians are also placed in a much more dangerous environment.

An extra hour of daylight during rush hour 5:00 p.m. hour traffic is significant.

Over the years, 32 states have passed legislation to have Daylight Saving Time year-round; including 19 states during 2021.

The 19 states this year to act are: Alabama, Georgia, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Idaho, Louisiana, Ohio, South Carolina, Utah, Wyoming, Arkansas, Delaware, Maine, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington, Florida and California.

However, a switch to year-round daylight saving time would require a change to federal law.

To further make the case, The Department of Transportation, which is in charge of daylight saving time, says the practice saves energy, prevents traffic accidents and curbs crime.

They do note one downside. Sleep experts believe the health effects of losing sleep eclipses the value. I don’t buy this argument. You only have to make the change one time. I think people can easily adjust.

It appears that the ultimate stumbling block for the supporters of year-round daylight saving time is the federal 1966 Uniform Time Act, which became law because of the random way states had been observing Daylight Saving Time.

Here is a link to a great article written by a Washington State Professor, who details 5 distinct reasons why Daylight Saving Time should be in effect on a year-round basis.

https://www.fastcompany.com/90694019/5-reasons-we-should-keep-daylight-savings-time-all-year

It makes a compelling case for year-round Daylight Saving Time.

Do you agree or disagree?