Soon the clocks will “spring forward” for the start of daylight saving time, and you may be wondering: Why do we have to make the change year after year?
Or what if daylight saving time became permanent or we didn't have to make the change at all?
The two scenarios have long been debated, with experts disagreeing about which is better: permanent standard time or permanent daylight saving time.
But as many prepare to move their clocks forward, here's what would happen if things stopped changing:
What is Standard Time?
According to the Time and Date website, standard time is the local time in a country or region that does not observe daylight saving time.
“More than 60% of the world’s countries use standard time year-round,” the website says. “The remaining countries use daylight saving time during the summer months and generally set clocks forward one hour from standard time.”
According to AASM, it is standard time that is more consistent with our body's internal clock.
“The daily cycle of natural light and darkness is the most powerful timing cue to synchronize our body’s internal clock,” says the Illinois-based organization. “When we receive more light in the morning and more darkness in the evening, our bodies and nature are more in tune with each other, making it easier for us to wake up for our daily activities and fall asleep more easily at night. Daylight saving time disrupts our internal clock leading to sleep loss and poor sleep quality, which in turn leads to negative health consequences.”
““For morning commuters and children heading to school, dark mornings pose numerous safety concerns due to permanent daylight saving time,” the AASM says. “This would be particularly problematic in the winter months when the days become shorter and shorter.”
What is Daylight Saving Time?
Daylight saving time is a time change that typically begins in spring and ends in fall, often referred to as “spring forward” and “fall back.”
Under the terms of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, daylight saving time begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November.
On these days the clocks are either moved forward or back by one hour.
When is summer time?
Daylight saving time will be reinstated on March 10, 2024, with the second Sunday in March marking the official date when the clocks go forward.
As that date approaches, the Chicago area will see nearly 12 hours of sunlight per day, and the spring equinox will come just a few days later.
For those curious, the summer solstice occurs on June 20th with more than 15 hours and 13 minutes of sunlight. Sunset occurs around 8:29 p.m., giving residents plenty of time to enjoy the additional sun.
After that, the days will get shorter and daylight saving time will end on November 3, 2024.
Do experts prefer summer time or winter time?
Previous legislative proposals pushed for a permanent daylight savings time change, but that legislation ultimately failed.
Still, sleep experts have long questioned the health of daylight saving time.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has been pushing for a move to permanent standard time for several years.
“By causing the human internal clock to be out of sync with the natural environment, daylight saving time increases risks to our physical health, mental well-being and public safety,” says Dr. M. Adeel Rishi, chairman of the AASM Public Safety Committee and a pulmonary, sleep medicine and critical care specialist at Indiana University Health in Indianapolis, said in a statement. “Permanent standard time is the optimal choice for health and safety.”
Experts cited a “growing body of evidence” in recent years.
“Permanent standard time helps synchronize the internal clock with the rising and setting of the sun,” said Dr. James A. Rowley, president of the AASM, in a press release. “This natural synchrony is optimal for healthy sleep, and sleep is essential for health, mood, performance and safety.”
It also echoes similar views from other organizations, including the National Sleep Foundation, which said: “Seasonal time changes impact sleep health and should be eliminated.”
However, according to the Department of Transportation, daylight saving time has a number of advantages. The DOT's website highlights the following:
- It saves energy. During daylight saving time, the sun sets an hour later in the evening, meaning less electricity is used for lighting and household appliances. During summertime, people tend to spend more time outside in the evenings, reducing the need for household electricity. Additionally, because sunrise occurs very early in the morning during the summer months, most people wake up after the sun has already risen, which means they turn on fewer lights in their homes.
- It saves lives and prevents traffic accidents. During daylight saving time, more people drive to school and work and run errands during the day.
- It reduces crime. During summer time, more people conduct their business during the day rather than at night when there is more crime.
What would happen if daylight saving time were permanent?
Illinoisans are used to the sun setting just after 4 p.m. in December, but if the clocks didn't change in the fall, that would obviously change. If Daylight Saving Time had become permanent, the earliest winter sunset in 2023 would have occurred on December 8, 2023 at 5:21 p.m
The real change would occur at sunrise. Because the time was moved forward an hour, sunrise would not occur until after 8 a.m. for a good portion of the winter, meaning morning commutes would be slightly darker for students and workers.
In fact, sunrise would not occur until after 8 a.m. for nearly two months, from December 4th to February 3rd.
Since daylight saving time already applies in summer, the earliest sunrise of the year (June 13th) and the latest sunset of the year (June 24th) remain unaffected.
*Note: All times listed here are for winter 2023 and 2024