The Madness of Resetting Clocks

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

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 I have to submit to the reverse.  At least this coming November I won’t be getting up in the dark and driving home from work in the dark.  I’ll be retired and that nonsense will end. 

And it is a bunch of nonsense because of the troubles that these transitions cause.  Researchers have learned that on the Monday after daylight saving starts, the incidence of stroke, heart attack and traffic accidents increases.  Judges hand-out tougher sentences and employees are more likely to waste time surfing the Internet.  Nothing but trouble.   

Daylight Saving Time is associated with the Western world as most countries outside Europe and North America don't observe the ritual.  Proponents of Daylight Saving Time argue that most people appreciate an increase in daylight hours after coming home from work.   It enhances public safety, makes good economic sense and may improve our mental health.  Personally-speaking I like the notion of longer, lighter evenings, better health and a happier more prosperous United States.  I can get behind those benefits.  Moreover, if it is such a good idea it should be made permanent.   

Voters in California think so because they approved a ballot measure last year to make it permanent. I happen to think that's smart policy - particularly if you are the sixth-largest economy on the planet.  But the change still faces several hurdles – including obtaining Congressional approval before it can be implemented.