US President-elect Donald Trump has announced plans to end Daylight Saving Time (DST), calling it “inconvenient” and “too costly” for Americans. In a post on his Truth social platform, Trump said that although DST has a small, vocal group of supporters, it should not continue, and that his Republican administration would work to end it.
What is Daylight Saving Time?
Daylight Saving Time (DST) is the practice of adjusting clocks forward one hour in the spring and back one hour in the autumn to make better use of natural daylight. According to the Pew Research Center, DST is observed in many countries around the world, including much of Europe and about a third of the world’s countries.
However, this tradition continues to face criticism in America. Some Americans, particularly those favoring standard time, argue that more daylight in the morning benefits health by promoting better sleep cycles. They also claim that DST disrupts sleep patterns, leading to disorientation and fatigue.
However, others advocate making DST permanent, suggesting that longer daylight hours in the evening, especially for those traveling after work or school, could reduce crime, save energy And can even reduce road accidents.
History of Daylight Saving Time
DST has a long history, with its origins going back more than a century. The idea first appeared in the 18th century in the mind of Benjamin Franklin, who said that waking up early helped him save on energy costs. The concept took hold in the late 19th century, when George Bernard Hudson of New Zealand and William Willett of the UK proposed ideas of changing clocks to increase daylight hours.
However, DST was first majorly adopted during World War I as a method of fuel conservation. Initially unpopular, it was repealed after the war but revived during World War II. DST was made permanent with the passage of the Uniform Time Act in 1966, although states were allowed to opt out of it. Today, most states in the US observe DST, although Hawaii and Arizona do not, citing their unique climate and geography.
Why is daylight saving time expensive?
DST can be costly because of its effects on energy consumption, health, and productivity. Although originally intended to save energy, longer daylight hours often lead to increased cooling costs. Time changes also disrupt sleep, leading to health problems, decreased productivity, and operational inefficiencies in sectors such as transportation and technology.
According to a study completed by Chamura Economics & Analytics, the economic cost of DST is substantial. The study focused on aspects of economic loss where evidence from peer-reviewed journals was available, and found that the transition to DST, particularly during the spring transition when we lose an hour of sleep, caused many Risk increases in areas.
The study found that the economic cost of DST in the US was significant, with a total estimated cost of $672.02 million annually. It includes the following categories of costs:
- Heart attack: $374.75 million
- Strokes: $251.53 million
- Workplace injuries: $18.35 million
- Traffic accidents: $27.39 million
