Twice a year, Americans endure the ritual of shifting their clocks, a practice originally designed for energy savings and practicality. But is this age-old tradition nearing its demise? Growing frustration from health experts, state lawmakers, and even billionaire Elon Musk has reignited the debate, putting the future of daylight saving time (DST) under intense scrutiny.
States Take Matters Into Their Own Hands
While Congress drags its feet, states like New Jersey and Washington are leading the charge to ditch clock changes once and for all. Their approaches, however, couldn’t be more different.
In New Jersey, Senate Bill S1510 is gaining traction, proposing permanent daylight saving time to give residents those cherished longer evenings. Sounds great, right? There’s just one catch: Congress needs to approve it. Without federal backing, the plan remains in limbo.
Washington, on the other hand, is taking a bold new approach. State Senator Jeff Wilson has introduced a bill to adopt permanent standard time, avoiding the need for Congressional approval altogether. If successful, Washington could finally escape the dreaded time shifts.
But Washington’s history with DST is complicated. Back in 2019, the state passed a law to adopt permanent daylight saving time. Guess what? It’s been sitting on the shelf ever since, thanks to—you guessed it—Congress.
The Dark Side of Daylight Saving Time
As charming as extra evening light might seem, the costs of daylight saving time are anything but trivial. Experts like Dr. Adam Spira, a leading sleep scientist, warn of the health hazards tied to these time shifts. Here’s what happens when the clocks spring forward or fall back:
- Sleeplessness: Circadian rhythms go haywire, leaving people groggy and irritable.
- Health risks: Heart attacks and strokes spike right after the changes.
- Accidents: Roads and workplaces become more dangerous as everyone adjusts.
And that’s not all. A report from the Association of Washington Business estimates the economic cost of DST disruptions at a staggering $340 million per year. Is that a price Americans are still willing to pay?
Elon Musk Weighs In: ‘Abolish the Annoying Time Changes!’
Leave it to Elon Musk to shake up the conversation. In a recent tweet, the billionaire behind Tesla and SpaceX declared, “Looks like people want to abolish the annoying time changes!” Musk’s star power and platform have reignited debate, adding momentum to a movement that’s been gaining steam for years.
It’s not the first time the U.S. has flirted with permanent DST. In 1974, amid an energy crisis, the government made the switch. The result? Public outrage, especially from parents worried about kids walking to school in pitch darkness. The backlash was so intense that the policy was scrapped in less than a year.
The Choices on the Table
So, what are the options for solving this age-old debate? Here’s a quick rundown:
| Option | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent standard time | Healthier, aligns with natural rhythms | Shorter daylight hours in the evening |
| Permanent daylight saving time | Longer evenings, happier moods | Dark mornings, increased health risks |
| Status quo | Familiar routine | Continued health and economic fallout |
It’s a classic case of no perfect answer. Advocates on both sides are deeply entrenched, leaving Congress with the unenviable task of finding common ground.
Congress Holds the Key, but Will It Act?
Here’s the kicker: no matter what states decide, the ultimate call rests with Congress. Over 20 states have passed laws supporting permanent daylight saving time, yet none can implement them without federal approval. The lack of consensus—and the need to address regional differences—has stalled progress.
As Americans grow increasingly fed up with the clock changes, the pressure is mounting. Will Congress finally end this long-standing debate? Or will the nation be stuck in the same time loop, year after year?
One thing’s for sure: the clock is ticking, and the fight over daylight saving time is far from over.
To me it seems like permanent DST is the best choice. We’re already on DST for the majority of the year, so it’s already the defacto standard time. Most of the issues revolve around the changing of times and not ST or DST in and of themselves. A switch to permanent DST will quickly become accustomed to, and concerns about health and rhythms will fade away. More evening light is actually a psychological benefit in my opinion, and remember that the days will still get longer and shorter with the change of seasons no matter which system we are on.
Meet in the middle-on the day to move the clocks forward one hour just move it 30 minutes and leave it there.
THE WEATHER AND WILDLIFE ARE ADJUSTED TO THE DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME AND ALSO IT HAS MUCH TO DO WHEN WOMEN HAVE MONTHLY PERIODS AND WITH WOMEN WHO ARE PREGNANT. LEAVE THE “TIME” LIKE IT IS. ITS TO MUCH WORK FOR AIRLINE AND BUSLINES TO BE CHANGING ALL THEIR RECORDS. DO YOU WANT THESE AND OTHER BUSINESSES TO BILL YOU FOR THE EXTRA WORK THEIR EMPLOYEES WOULD NEED TO DO IN CHANGING RECORD INFORMATION ?
YOU WOULD BE “FORCING TO MUCH WORK” FOR HUNDREDS OF WORKERS TO DO.
The UK introduced “permanent” daylight saving time for an experimental period of three years between 1968 and 1971. It meant that in midwinter the northwestern parts of the country were in darkness until about 10 a.m. At the end of it, Parliament voted to return to the status quo ante and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. At present, though, Europe and the US move their clocks on different dates, which is a nightmare for (for example) airline schedule planners. There would be a great deal to be said for harmonising European and American time changes.
Stop DLST
Elon, NOBODY wants your opinion!
Why not just go in between the two for a happy medium, that would be the most logical way to me, like adjust it 30 minutes instead of 1 hour
Please keep daylight savings time. These long dark nights are horrible.
Please leave it on standard time.! Standurd time was here before Congress started messing with time! No need to keep changing all the time!
Institutional knowledge and common sense – this was done so CHILDREN caught buses in light – not dark. I figure the teachers’ unions will now cut even more hours and teach even less. Sad.
Time change has always been a pain in the butt, so many changes take place feeding the animals, changing feeder times, it’s just a pain and it doesn’t matter which time is picked it will piss off people
Changing to DST yearly messes with our International Time Zone and sleep patterns. It is outdated and so is it’s usefulness. Stay with Standard Time year round.
Permanent daylight savings time is the answer. This will provide longer daylight evenings in the winter. To prevent kids walking to school in the dark during winter months, schools should start one hour later at 9 AM. Work schedules for most companies should also be adjusted to start at 9 AM instead of 8 AM.
I think that they should think about the little children who is at the bus stop in the morning in the dark
It’s very dangerous. I feel as though the high school kids should bus first in the morning.Daylightsaving time
should be the first choice and let it stay instead of keep changing it. You have to readjust all over again
I like it when the time jumps.forward it’s like it’s announcing spring warmer temps n time for.growing n get moving renewing.!Gosh.live people enjoy.we.only.get.o e chance.
This is why people need to think: Standard time is not our actual standard time. We spend more of the year in Daylight savings it is already 2/3 of the year, nobody wants this to have to be something that will have a huge impact on us so stick with eliminating standard time for the 4 months we are in it. OK so kids might have to go to school in the dark, I remember always going to school in the dark nothing will change that and besides it would only be a little darker for the mornings in the months when schools are more likely to be closed because of holidays, snow or inclement weather.
I hate daylight savings time. I wanted to stay Standard Time. Moving the clock ahead doesn’t that mess up the calendar. Kids do not want to go to bed because it is still light out .
Tired of playing time hop scotch…don’t care one way or the other just stop with the time change crap already.
Keep it standard time and end this nonsense. Daylight savings time was enacted when we were a more agrian culture (farming) so that farmers had more daylight hours with which they could plant/sow fields, etc. We are now a more manufacturing/technology culture and as such do not need daylight savings time for the same reason. What does get me I’d that Congress has anything to do with any of this. They can barely govern themselves. Let all of the people in all of the states vote to end this madness.
Instead of changing 1 hour twice a year, why not adjust 1/2 hour and leave it alone!!
DST gives people time to do more after work and school. It should be up to Americans to get to VOTE! Not the government to tell us what to do! Also some older people can’t drive after dark, so they have to schedule themselves
to avoid this. Also can’t go to Evening events, which effects family!
I vote for Standard Time. People stay up too late, including children, when it’s light so late. I understand that restaurants like the late light due to more customers, but that’s a poor reason.
12 noon is more or less defined as when the sun is straight above. Anybody wanting an extra hour of daylight in the afternoon should just start their day one hour earlier and not mess with my mind.
I don’t care which one they pick… just pick one and stay with it
Have been hoping and praying for years and years for permanent Daylight Saving time. Now the opposite is being proposed. NOOOOOO!!! In the Northwest where I live, with Standard Time, the sunsets are as early as 4:19. I can’t stand that!! And I want to keep the 9:12 pm sunsets in the summer! Am not a morning person, so couldn’t care less how the sunrise time is affected.