Daylight Saving Time is no more

Katherine Idgunji l News Editor

“Springing ahead” and “falling back” has been a topic of debate the past few years with the introduction of the Sunshine Protection Act in the spring of 2021.

This would be effective Nov. 5, 2023. Therefore, we would “spring ahead” once more on March 12 and maintain this time further in the future.

Arizona and Hawaii already do not participate in daylight saving time, and many other states have legislation in place to stop it if Congress were to pass the bill.

Currently, the Sunshine Protection Act has been passed in the Senate, but is being held at the desk of the House of Representatives as of March 16, 2022.

Keeping daylight saving time allows for longer daylight hours and promotes safety in many ways. Since there are longer daylight hours, there are less car accidents and the rate of pedestrians being hit by a car is significantly lower.

According to Britannica, robberies drop about 7% overall and 27% in the evening hours after the spring time change. Overall, the longer daylight hours make our communities safer.

Longer daylight also means more time that people want to shop. Since the sun is out longer, people are often more inclined to go shopping after work, thus, increasing retail sales and benefiting the economy.

Keeping daylight savings time also promotes active lifestyles. People are more inclined to participate in more outdoor activities after work and school while the sun is still shining.

Even though there are many positives to keeping daylight saving time, there are also good arguments on the side of getting rid of daylight saving time.

Losing and gaining an hour of sleep can greatly affect your sleeping pattern. Studies can link the lack of sleep at the start of daylight saving time to an increase in workplace injuries, suicide and even miscarriages.

The real answer to this debate, does not lie in the hands of the people. Rather, it is dependent on whether the bill will pass in the House of Representatives.

After reviewing the pros and cons, the benefits of daylight saving time outweigh the negatives of “springing ahead” and “falling back.”

Having extra daylight allows for more time to be physically active and enjoy more time in the sunlight, which in return may actually benefit your health rather than hurt it.

For now, this issue is just a waiting game. As we patiently anticipate the results of the Sunshine Protection Act, just think, is it really worth it to get rid of daylight saving time?