Jump to content

Permanent time observation in the United States

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 216.49.181.128 (talk) at 22:22, 15 March 2022 (→Previous observation of year-round daylight saving time: This section is not for arguments for against Permanent DST, rather strictly for information on the previous observation of it.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Permanent standard time refers to the year-round observation of standard time. Likewise, permanent daylight saving time refers to the year-round observation of daylight saving time (DST). Both permanent standard time and permanent DST eliminate the practice of semi-annual clock changes, specifically the advancement of clocks by one hour from standard time to DST in spring (commonly called "spring forward") and the retraction of clocks by one hour from DST to standard time in fall ("fall back"). In the United States, Arizona (with the exception of the Navajo Nation), Hawaii, and all permanently inhabited territories observe permanent standard time. Observation of permanent DST is forbidden by the Uniform Time Act.

The Uniform Time Act of 1966 formalized the specification of time zones and the dates of DST observation in the United States. Prior to this law, time zones and DST observation in America were independent and erratic across states and cities.[1][2] The law requires states to change clocks biannually between standard time and DST on federally mandated dates, and it permits states to opt out of DST observation altogether and remain on permanent standard time. It does not permit observation of permanent DST.[3]

Studies have shown the semi-annual clock changes result in sleep disturbances, ultimately resulting in more health problems and traffic accidents.[4][5] Legislators in 25 states have attempted to switch to either permanent standard time or permanent DST. Currently more states are pursuing permanent DST.[6]

Permanent standard time

Prior to the introduction of DST, all American states observed permanent Standard Time. Presently in the US, Arizona (with the exception of the Navajo Nation), Hawaii, and all permanently inhabited territories (American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands) observe permanent standard time.[7] A number of states have proposed bills to restore observation of permanent standard time, but few have yet to gain ground.[8][9][6]

Possible benefits and disadvantages

Permanent standard time is considered by circadian health researchers and safety experts worldwide to be the best option for health, safety, schools, and economy, including the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, National Sleep Foundation, American College of Chest Physicians, National Safety Council, American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Canadian Sleep Society, World Sleep Society, Society for Research on Biological Rhythms, and several state sleep societies.[10][11][4][12][13][14][15][16][17] Permanent standard time is supported by advocates for school children, including the National PTA, National Education Association, American Federation of Teachers, National School Boards Association, and Start School Later. They cite both the health benefits of circadian alignment, and the safety advantages regarding morning commutes.[10][18][19][20]

It is supported by certain religious communities, such as Orthodox Jews, whose daily prayers and other customs are synchronized with times of sunrise and sunset.[21][22][23]

It is supported by environmental evidence, owing to evidence that DST observation increases driving, morning heating, and evening air conditioning, which all in turn increase energy consumption and pollution.[24][25]

Permanent daylight saving time

A change in federal law would be necessary to allow states to observe DST permanently all year. A number of states have pursued state bills, resolutions, and referendums to indicate intention to observe permanent DST if federal law would permit it.

In 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, Florida Republican senator Marco Rubio introduced to Congress the "Sunshine Protection Act", a bill to permit states to observe permanent DST. The bill has achieved referral to committee, but it has yet to receive a hearing.

[26][27][28][29] Also in 2021, Florida Republican Representative Vern Buchanan introduced a daylight saving time for the whole country, by changing everyone's time zone forward by an hour (Eastern Time would become permanently UTC-0400 instead of UTC-0500). That bill also allowed states to opt out under certain conditions.[30]

As a work-around to the Uniform Time Act's prohibition on permanent DST, a bloc of states in New England has proposed a statutory move from the Eastern Time Zone to the Atlantic Time Zone (Atlantic Time being one hour ahead of Eastern Time), and then abolishing biannual clock changes. If approved by the Department of Transportation, such a move would effectively put these states on permanent DST without needing to await amendment to the Uniform Time Act by Congress. Similarly, on the West Coast, Washington state passed both a bill for permanent DST and an alternative bill to move the state's official observation from the Pacific Time Zone to the Mountain Time Zone.[31]

In 2020, Yukon, Canada adopted permanent daylight saving time. Residents changed their clocks forward on March 8, 2020, marking the last time they ever did so. [32] [33]

Possible benefits and disadvantages

A meta-analysis by Rutgers researchers found that Permanent DST would eliminate 171 pedestrian fatalities (a 13% reduction) per year.[34] DST has been supported by the Chamber of Commerce since 1915 attributing added sales and outdoor activity to sunlight in the evenings. Additionally, DST has been expanded to nearly 8 months of the year, effectively making it the new standard.[35]

Researchers warn however that the human body "never adjusts"[5] to DST, and that permanent observation of DST would result in "permanent social jet lag".[11] Experts such as Till Roenneberg argue that evidence from extreme edges of time zones, extensions of DST, and permanent observation of DST demonstrate this phenomenon "significantly"[4] increases rates of disease and accidents, and lowers productivity and wages.[36] In 2018, the European Sleep Research Society, European Biological Rhythms Society, and Society for Research on Biological Rhythms (SRBR) released a joint statement to the EU Commission on DST in opposition to permanent DST and in support of permanent standard time.[37] The SRBR followed with its own more comprehensive statement and set of materials supporting the same position in 2019.[17] In August 2020, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine provided a statement on why they oppose permanent daylight saving time and favor permanent standard time.[10]

Medical experts for years have been citing health risks associated with the "Spring Forward" and "Fall Back", including Daliah Wachs and Paul Kalekas, and in a petition, they took the temperature of what society would want in terms of ending the time change, and close to 200,000 signed asking for an end to biannual time changes. They and other physicians are supporting the #SickofSpringForward and #FinishedWithFallBack campaign.[38][39]

Seasonal observation of DST was first enacted in the US during World Wars I and II, as an attempt to conserve fuel. The practice was unpopular and promptly repealed after each war; however, lobbyists from the petroleum industry lobbied to restore DST, as they had noticed it actually increased fuel consumption. Petroleum lobbyists joined with lobbyists from golf and candy corporations in the 1980s to form the National Daylight Saving Time Coalition, and they have twice since succeeded in extending the length of DST's observation from six months to seven in 1986, and again to eight months in 2005.[1][21][24][40][41] The observation of DST has also been found to increase residential energy costs and pollution costs by several million dollars per year.[42]

Previous observation of year-round daylight saving time

Permanent DST in the US was briefly enacted by president Richard Nixon in 1974, in response to the 1973 oil crisis. The proposal was initially supported by an estimated 79% of the public; that support dropped to 42% after its first winter, owing to the harshness of dark winter mornings that permanent DST creates. In the state of Florida alone, at least six school children were killed by motorists due to the dark mornings created by the new law.[18] The new permanent DST law was retracted within the year.[1][2][43][44]

Table of state-level legislative actions

State Legislation for permanent standard time Legislation for permanent DST Note Ref.
Alabama No attempt Success [6]
Alaska No attempt Pending
(as of 2020; HB 292) 		[6]
Arizona Success
(A.R.S. § 1-242, in effect since January 1, 1969) 		No attempt Has observed permanent standard time since 1968; see also Time in Arizona [6][45]: 629 [46]
Arkansas No attempt Pending
(as of 2021; HB 1017) 		Passed a bill in 2019 urging the federal government to permit states to use permanent DST. [6][47]
California Partial success Partial success In 2018, Proposition 7 passed, allowing the state legislature to pursue either permanent standard time or permanent DST. [6][48][49][50]
Colorado Failure Failure [6][51]
Connecticut No attempt Partial success Dependent on neighboring states' participation [6]
Delaware No attempt Success [6]
Florida No attempt Success [6]
Georgia Failure
 Success
(OCGA § 50-1-10) 		Passed a bill in 2020 urging the federal government to permit states to use permanent DST.
Two simultaneous bills were introduced in 2021. One for permanent standard time, the other for permanent DST. 		[6][52][53]
Hawaii Success
(H.R.S. §1-31, in effect since March 30, 1967) 		No attempt Has observed permanent standard time since 1967; see also Time in Hawaii [6][54]
Idaho No attempt Partial success If Washington implements permanent DST, the northern part of the state in Pacific Time will follow. [6]
Illinois Pending
(as of 2021; HB2609 and HB3321) 		No attempt [55][56]
Indiana No attempt No attempt [6]
Iowa No attempt No attempt [6]
Kansas No attempt No attempt [6]
Kentucky No attempt No attempt [6]
Louisiana No attempt Success [6]
Maine No attempt Success Dependent on neighboring states' participation [6]
Maryland No attempt Pending
(as of 2022; HB 126) 		[57]
Massachusetts No attempt No attempt [6]
Michigan No attempt No attempt [6]
Minnesota No attempt Success [6]
Mississippi No attempt Success [6]
Missouri Pending
(as of 2021; HB 780) 		No attempt [58]
Montana No attempt Success Multiple bills, at least one of which depends on voter approval [6]
Nebraska No attempt No attempt Dependent on a minimum number of states' participation [6]
Nevada No attempt No attempt [6]
New Hampshire No attempt Partial success Dependent on neighboring states' participation [6]
New Jersey No attempt No attempt [6]
New Mexico No attempt No attempt [6]
New York Pending
(as of 2021; S5371 and A3837) 		No attempt Establishes task force to study effects of opting out of DST. [59][60]
North Carolina No attempt Pending
(as of 2021; SB 39 and HB 307) 		[6]
North Dakota No attempt No attempt [6]
Ohio No attempt Success [6]
Oklahoma Pending
(as of 2021; HB 1660) 		No attempt [61]
Oregon No attempt Success Dependent on neighboring states' participation [6]
Pennsylvania Pending
(as of 2021; House Bill 846) 		No attempt [62]
Rhode Island No attempt Partial success Dependent on neighboring states' participation [6]
South Carolina No attempt Success [6]
South Dakota No attempt No attempt [6]
Tennessee No attempt Success [6]
Texas Failure Failure Multiple bills, at least one of which depends on voter approval [6]
Utah No attempt Success Dependent on neighboring states' participation [6]
Vermont Pending
(as of April 2021; H.168) 		No attempt [63]
Virginia Pending
(As of 2021; HJ 541) 		Pending
(As of 2021; HJ 541) 		Requests study of effects in using either standard time or daylight saving time year-round [6][64]
Washington No attempt Success Dependent on a state review of impact [6]
West Virginia No attempt No attempt [6]
Wisconsin No attempt No attempt [6]
Wyoming No attempt Success Dependent on neighboring states' participation [6]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Downing, Michael (August 9, 2005). "Endless Summer". The New York Times. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Downing, Michael (March 9, 2018). "100 Years Later, the Madness of Daylight Saving Time Endures". The Conversation. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  3. ^ 15 U.S. Code § 260a.Advancement of time or changeover dates (a). August 30, 1991. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "Turn Back the Clock on Daylight Savings: Why Standard Time All Year Round Is the Healthy Choice". The Globe and Mail. November 2, 2019. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  5. ^ a b Curtis, Annie (October 28, 2019). "Daylight Saving Time: Harmed by Hands of the Clock". The Irish Times. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as "Daylight Saving Time | State Legislation". National Conference of State Legislatures. March 4, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  7. ^ "Time Zones in the United States". timeanddate.com. Time and Date AS. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  8. ^ Korch, Travers (March 4, 2015). "The financial history of daylight saving". Bankrate. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  9. ^ Hammill, Roxie (February 14, 2020). "Changing Clocks Is Bad For Your Health, But Which Time To Choose?". Kaiser Health News. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  10. ^ a b c "Daylight Saving Time: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine Position Statement". American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
  11. ^ a b "Year-Round Daylight Time Will Cause 'Permanent Jet Lag,' Sleep Experts Warn in Letter to Government". CBC News. October 31, 2019. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  12. ^ "Position statement of the Canadian sleep society on the practice of daylight saving time (DST)". css-scs.ca. Canadian Sleep Society. 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  13. ^ "Permanent Standard Time: A Position Statement from the National Sleep Foundation" (PDF). thensf.org. National Sleep Foundation. March 22, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  14. ^ Ogliore, Talia (October 24, 2019). "WashU Expert: This Year, Let's Make Standard Time Permanent". The Source. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  15. ^ Roenneberg, Till; Wirz-Justice, Anna; Skene, Debra J.; Ancoli-Israel, Sonia; Wright, Kenneth P.; Dijk, Derk-Jan; Zee, Phyllis; Gorman, Michael R.; Winnebeck, Eva C.; Klerman, Elizabeth B. (June 6, 2019). "Why Should We Abolish Daylight Saving Time?". Journal of Biological Rhythms. 34 (3): 227–230. doi:10.1177/0748730419854197. PMC 7205184. PMID 31170882.
  16. ^ "To the EU Commission on DST" (PDF). sltbr.org. Society for Light Treatment and Biological Rhythms. 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  17. ^ a b "Daylight Saving Time Presskit". srbr.org. Society for Research on Biological Rhythms. 2019. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  18. ^ a b Jenkins, Evan (January 31, 1974). "Schools Ask End to Daylight Time". The New York Times. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  19. ^ Achenbach, Joel (March 8, 2019). "Springing forward to daylight saving time is obsolete, confusing and unhealthy, critics say". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  20. ^ "Permanent Daylight Savings May Cancel Out Changes to School Start Times". Cell Press. April 22, 2019. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  21. ^ a b Cohen, Benyamin (April 24, 2019). "Do We Still Need Daylight Saving Time?". Mother Nature Network. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  22. ^ Eller, Sandy (March 13, 2018). "Florida's Proposed Change to Permanent Daylight Savings Time Could Create Halachic Problems for Jewish Community". Vos Iz Neias. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  23. ^ "Orthodox Group Asks Congressman to Withdraw Year-round Daylight Time Bill". Jewish Telegraph Agency. July 19, 1972. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  24. ^ a b Porter, Catherine (March 9, 2008). "Why daylight saving time is bad for the environment". The Star. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  25. ^ Livingston, Amy (2016). "Is Daylight Savings Time Helpful or Harmful? – History & Effects". Money Crashers. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  26. ^ "S.623 - A Bill to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent, and for Other Purposes".
  27. ^ Rubio, Marco (March 6, 2019). "S.670 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): Sunshine Protection Act of 2019". www.congress.gov. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  28. ^ Clark, James (2018). "Daylight Saving Year-Round: Once a Disaster, Always a Disaster". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  29. ^ Mitzman, Barry (2020). "Marco Rubio's Time Machine and Why It's Wrong for America". Washington Monthly. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  30. ^ Buchanan, Vern (January 4, 2021). "H.R.69 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): Sunshine Protection Act of 2021". Congress.gov. United States Congress. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
  31. ^ Goble, Keith (March 8, 2019). "Action Pursued in 30 States to End Time Changes". Land Line Magazine. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  32. ^ "Yukon to make Daylight Saving Time permanent after final time change Sunday". March 4, 2020.
  33. ^ "No changing clocks in Yukon this weekend, as territory scraps seasonal time change". October 31, 2020.
  34. ^ Coate, D.; Markowitz, S. (2004). "The Effects of Daylight and Daylight Saving Time on US Pedestrian Fatalities and Motor Vehicle Occupant Fatalities". Accident Analysis & Prevention. 36 (3): 351–7. doi:10.1016/S0001-4575(03)00015-0. PMID 15003579.
  35. ^ Chappell, Bill (November 6, 2021). "Daylight saving time ends Sunday. Here are 4 things you should know". NPR. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  36. ^ Roenneberg, Till; Winnebeck, Eva C.; Klerman, Elizabeth B. (August 7, 2019). "Daylight Saving Time and Artificial Time Zones – A Battle Between Biological and Social Times". Frontiers in Physiology. 10: 944. doi:10.3389/fphys.2019.00944. PMC 6692659. PMID 31447685.
  37. ^ "Joint statement to the EU Commission on DST". esrs.eu. European Sleep Research Society. 2018. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  38. ^ Salmon, Courtney. "You Can Sign Petition To Abolish Daylight Saving Time". Retrieved September 12, 2020.
  39. ^ Malloy, Steph. "Petition Created to End Daylight Saving Time". KXNET. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  40. ^ Schlanger, Zoë (November 4, 2017). "Daylight Saving Time as Americans Know It Was Instituted by Corporate Lobbies, Not Farmers". Quartz. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  41. ^ Houston, Paul (June 25, 1986). "Congress OKs 3 More Weeks of Daylight Time". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  42. ^ "Does Daylight Saving Time Save Electricity?". Centre for Economic Policy Research. December 5, 2008. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  43. ^ Clark, James (October 31, 2018). "Daylight Saving Year-Round: Once a Disaster, Always a Disaster". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  44. ^ Ripley, Anthony (October 1, 1974). "Senate Votes Return to Standard Time For Four Months and Sends Bill to Ford". The New York Times. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  45. ^ "Session laws, State of Arizona, 1968, Twenty-Eighth Legislature, Second Regular Session, Second to Fourth Special Sessions". State of Arizona. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  46. ^ "Journal of the Senate, State of Arizona, 1968, Twenty-Eighth Legislature, Second Regular Session, Fourth Special Session". Arizona Memory Project. 1968. p. 740.
  47. ^ "Daylight Saving Time | State Legislation". www.ncsl.org. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  48. ^ "Whatever Happened to Year-Round Daylight-Saving Time? California Lawmaker Isn't Giving Up". San Francisco Chronicle. March 6, 2020.
  49. ^ Gonzalez, Vicki (March 11, 2021). "School Reopening Update / Vaccination Rates In Rural, Underserved Communities / Is There Really A California Exodus? / Prospects Of Making Daylight Saving Time Permanent". Insight. Cap Radio. Retrieved November 12, 2021. And we were really straightforward when we ran the initiative that we weren't putting our thumb on the scale of either daylight saving time or standard time. But everybody heard what they wanted to hear. So, people who like Daylight Saving Time thought, 'Yes, Daylight Saving Time year-round,' and people who don't like time change thought Standard Time year-round.
  50. ^ Zavala, Ashley (November 4, 2021). "Why does California still observe daylight saving time 3 years after Prop 7 was passed?". Inside California Politics. Fox 40. Retrieved November 12, 2021. "It comes down to something really simple, anyone can try it at home or ask their friends, 'Do you want year-round daylight savings time or do you want to get rid of daylight savings time?'" said Asm. Lorena Gonzalez, D-San Diego.
  51. ^ Burness, Alex (February 20, 2020). "Colorado Movement to Abolish Daylight Saving Time Remains Hopeful Despite Loss". The Denver Post. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  52. ^ "SB 100". Government of Georgia. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  53. ^ "HB 44". Government of Georgia. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  54. ^ "SLH 1967 Act 4" (PDF). Government of Hawaii. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  55. ^ "Bill Status of HB2609". Illinois General Assembly. February 17, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  56. ^ "Bill Status of HB3321". Illinois General Assembly. February 19, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  57. ^ "HB 126". Maryland General Assembly. February 18, 2022. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  58. ^ "HB 780". Missouri House of Representatives. January 11, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  59. ^ "Senate Bill S5371". The New York State Senate. March 3, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  60. ^ "Assembly Bill A3837". The New York State Senate. January 28, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  61. ^ "Bill Information for HB 1660". Oklahoma State Legislature. February 1, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  62. ^ "House Bill 846". Pennsylvania General Assembly. March 9, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  63. ^ "An act relating to daylight saving time". Vermont General Assembly. February 2, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  64. ^ "HJ 541 Daylight saving time; Secretary of Commerce and Trade to study the effects on the Commonwealth". Virginia's Legislative Information System. January 11, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Permanent_time_observation_in_the_United_States&oldid=1077357618"