We just turned our clocks back a couple days ago for Daylight Savings Time (DST). Some welcomed the extra hour of sleep and a little more light in the morning, while others bemoan the faster encroaching darkness in the evening. And there are all the clocks and timers that need manual resetting.

3 of the four states in the Pacific Time Zone have voted to abolish DST: Washington, Oregon, and Nevada have passed bills to end DST (Oregon and Nevada have areas in both Pacific and the Mountain time zone – their resolutions would only impact the Pacific Time Zone areas). The one remaining holdout state is California. A bill was introduced and passed in the California state assembly in 2018, but stalled in the state senate.

What are the arguments in favor of DST?
Road safety – some studies show that pedestrian fatalities may be reduced during dawn and dusk hours
Increased physical activity – the reasoning is longer daylight hours will motivate people to get out of the house for outdoor recreation
Tourism profits from longer, brighter evenings with people more likely to shop, go to restaurants, and attend events
Less artificial light/energy savings – if daylight hours coincide with people’s active lives, it is argued less artificial light may be needed, thus saving energy

What are the arguments against DST?
Doesn’t save energy – when it was introduced a century ago, there were significant energy savings because of less need for artificial light. Today, with so many modern technological devices, the energy saved by DST is insignificant. One study actually found that DST may increase energy use
Increased fatigue and illness – many people experience fatigue when forced to change their clocks one hour. The impact can be significant, however, leading to increased depression, auto accidents, workplace injuries, miscarriages, and suicides.
Increased costs – despite pro-tourism benefits, studies find decreased productivity associated with DST. NYC even invested $1.5 million in 2016 for a safety campaign for the DST change

To learn more about abolishing DST, check out End Daylight Savings Time.org