Where does daylight saving time even come from, and why does it still exist?
Daylight saving time is a system aimed at extending daylight hours during the summer months by advancing our clocks forward one hour in the spring and setting them back one hour in mid to late fall.
According to the Bureau of Transportation statistics, there were over 144 local times in North America before time zones were established in 1883. They were established to standardize the railway system, as transportation in the nineteenth century became faster and travel across longer distances became more common. Without this standardization, train schedules would clash, causing collisions and confusion. As the US entered World War 1, the Eastern, Central, Mountain, Pacific, and Alaska zones were established, which are the time zones we still use today. Multiple countries such as Australia, Great Britain, Germany, and the United States instituted daylight saving time during the war to conserve fuel by reducing the need for artificial light.
Today, the Department of Transportation maintains the system of daylight saving time due to its historical importance to the transportation system and its associated activity. Recently, however, there has been a discussion on ceasing daylight saving time entirely. In 2022, the Senate passed a bill to make daylight saving time permanent, however, it didn’t pass in the House. Many Americans now believe that changing their clocks is a dated practice useful only for wartime in the twentieth century, according to almanac.com, who cite that 7 out of 10 Americans are now against continuing daylight saving time for its negative effects. According to Johns Hopkins School of public health, these effects include a heightened risk of mood disturbances and hospital admissions, as well as an elevated risk of severe stress responses. Because of its impact on sleep patterns, the potential for car crashes after the spring change increases by 6%. In addition, it is arguably less sustainable, as extending daylight hours encourages heightened use of air conditioning and heating systems.
Let us know what you think about changing the clocks!
Sources:
Comments