The Madness of Resetting Clocks

If you’re like me this semiannual switch between Standard Time and Daylight Saving Time is maddening.  Today I lost an hour of sleep and in November after I set my clock back an hour I’ll still get out of bed in the dark and drive home from work in the dark.  This resetting of the clocks is messing with my circadian rhythms. 

Daylight Saving Time is associated with the Western world as most countries outside Europe and North America don't observe the ritual. 

Courtesy of CNN research the notion of Daylight Saving Time has a curious pedigree. 

1784 - The idea of daylight saving is first conceived by Benjamin Franklin. 

1914-1918 - Britain goes on DLS during World War I. 

March 19, 1918 - The Standard Time Act establishes time zones and daylight saving. Daylight saving is repealed in 1919, but continues to be recognized in certain areas of the United States. 

1945-1966 - There is no federal law regarding Daylight Saving Time. 

1966 - The Uniform Time Act of 1966 establishes the system of uniform Daylight Saving Time throughout the United States. The dates are the last Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October. States can exempt themselves from participation. 

1974-1975 - Congress extends DLS in order to save energy during the energy crisis. 

1986-2006 - Daylight Saving Time begins on the first Sunday in April and ends on the last Sunday in October. 

August 8, 2005 - President George W. Bush signs the Energy Policy Act of 2005 into law. Part of the act will extend Daylight Saving Time starting in 2007, from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November. 

Last week the Sunshine State decided they had enough of this nonsense and by overwhelming margins the Florida House of Representatives and Senate passed the Sunshine Protection Act and they’ve sent it to Governor Rick Scott to be signed into law or possibly vetoed.  Chief sponsors of the legislation would tell you the bill making Daylight Saving Time permanent would improve the economy, public safety and the mental health of Floridians. 

Yet there is a catch.  While states can opt-out of Daylight Saving Time (Arizona and Hawaii) the states do not have a choice to opt-out of Standard Time.  So even if the Sunshine Protection Act is signed into law nothing will change as only the federal government can implement that change. 

Seemingly unable to do anything about immigration or trade it is highly unlikely that setting the clocks would rise to the level of importance to attract any congressional attention much less action.

As for making Daylight Savings Time permanent there is evidence that the frequency of heart attack and stroke increases around the ritual resetting of clocks twice a year.  Benefits of Daylight Savings Time enhance public safety, make better economic sense and may improve our mental health.  Proponents of Daylight Saving Time argue that most people appreciate an increase in daylight hours after coming home from work.  As for me I like the notion of longer, lighter evenings, better health and a happier more prosperous United States.  Make it permanent.