People love to hate changing clocks twice a year, but can’t agree how to fix it
People love to hate changing clocks twice a year, but can’t agree how to fix it
The Struggle to Adjust
As daylight saving time begins, clocks in most U.S. regions will jump ahead an hour at 2 a.m. on Sunday, resulting in a day that lasts just 23 hours. This disruption messes with sleep cycles, complicates morning activities like dog walks, and sparks millions of complaints annually. Despite polls showing widespread dislike for the system, political progress in reforming it has stalled due to conflicting views on the best solution.
Polling the Public Opinion
A recent AP-NORC poll revealed that only about 10% of U.S. adults support the current practice of adjusting clocks twice yearly. Half of respondents oppose the system, while roughly 40% remain undecided. If given a choice, most Americans would favor keeping daylight saving time year-round, rather than switching to standard time. However, this preference creates challenges, as it would mean sunrise in Detroit occurring around 9 a.m. during winter, while Seattle would see the sun rise at 4:11 a.m. in June if standard time were adopted permanently.
Legislative Efforts and Challenges
Since 2018, 19 states—spanning the South and parts of the northwestern U.S.—have passed laws to transition to permanent daylight saving time. Yet, Congress must approve a national law for this change, a process that was briefly used during World War II and again in 1974. The U.S. Senate approved a bill in 2022 to implement permanent DST, but a similar House proposal has yet to be voted on. U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, a Republican from Alabama, cited the airline industry’s concerns about scheduling complexities as a reason for delaying action.
A Middle Ground Proposal
U.S. Rep. Greg Steube of Florida suggests an alternative: shifting the clock by 30 minutes to ease the transition. This compromise could align the U.S. more closely with global standards, though it would still place the nation out of sync with most countries. Even India has taken a similar approach, while Nepal remains 15 minutes ahead of India. Steube believes his plan might gain broader support, but the debate over timing continues.
Health and Circadian Impact
Experts warn that the biannual time change affects more than just daily routines. Karin Johnson, vice president of Save Standard Time and a neurology professor at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, argues that permanent standard time—where the sun rises around noon—could improve daily functioning for students, drivers, and others. “Morning light is essential for setting our circadian rhythms,” she explained. Kenneth Wright, director of the Sleep and Chronobiology Laboratory at the University of Colorado, highlighted increased risks of vehicle crashes, heart attacks, and strokes in the days following the spring adjustment. He stated, “Based on health and safety evidence, the optimal choice for the country now is permanent standard time.”
Regional Variations and Recent Moves
Currently, only Arizona (excluding the Navajo Nation) and Hawaii opt out of daylight saving time. In recent years, several states have introduced bills to adopt permanent standard time, with Virginia passing one in February. However, a Virginia House committee recently recommended postponing the decision until 2027. Many of these measures include conditions, such as requiring neighboring states to also change their clocks for the adjustment to take effect. This approach reflects the ongoing challenge of balancing local needs with national coordination.
“There’s no law we can pass to move the sun to our will,” said Jay Pea, president of Save Standard Time. “There’s no law we can pass to move the sun to our will,” said Jay Pea, president of Save Standard Time. “There’s no law we can pass to move the sun to our will,” said Jay Pea, president of Save Standard Time.