Why year-round Daylight Saving Time could make school mornings deadly for kids
Why Year Round Daylight Saving Time Could Create Darker School Mornings
Goldlaner.com – Why year round Daylight Saving Time remains a contentious question as Americans prepare to set clocks back one hour on Sunday, November 1. While many people favor brighter winter evenings and an end to twice-yearly clock changes, research suggests a permanent shift could leave far more children traveling to school before sunrise.
A study published Thursday in Current Biology examined how time policy affects students’ morning commutes. Its findings indicate that keeping Daylight Saving Time throughout the year could substantially increase the number of children walking, biking, waiting for buses or riding to school in darkness.
What the Fall Time Change Means
At 2 a.m. Sunday, clocks will move back to 1 a.m. Sunrise and sunset will occur an hour earlier by the clock, bringing more light to early mornings but making evening darkness arrive sooner.
In the United States, Daylight Saving Time begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. Although the spring change is often harder because it cuts an hour of sleep, either shift can disrupt children’s routines, including bedtimes, wake-up times and school schedules.
The Appeal of Permanent Daylight Saving Time
Supporters of permanent Daylight Saving Time say ending clock changes would simplify daily life and preserve more late-day light for recreation, outdoor activity and business. The Sunshine Protection Act, passed by the US House of Representatives in July, would establish permanent Daylight Saving Time nationwide if it became law.
But the key tradeoff is winter sunrise. Under a permanent Daylight Saving Time policy, the sun would rise an hour later on the clock than it does under standard time. In many communities, students would begin their school commute well before daylight.
People who want to stop changing clocks but prioritize morning light generally support permanent standard time. That approach would keep the country on winter time year-round and avoid the annual spring shift.
Why Year Round Daylight Saving Time Raises Safety Concerns
Researchers at the University of Washington reviewed school start times at more than 16,000 schools in 14 states, representing roughly 8.6 million children. They compared permanent standard time, the current system of seasonal clock changes and permanent Daylight Saving Time.
Permanent Daylight Saving Time created the biggest rise in pre-sunrise travel. In the 14 states studied, researchers estimated students would make about 356 million additional school commutes before sunrise each year compared with the current system.
Applied nationwide, the estimate exceeded 2 billion additional school journeys in darkness every year. These trips include children walking to bus stops, biking, crossing streets and riding with family members during the morning rush.
Dark Mornings and Pedestrian Risk
The study also reviewed fatal motor vehicle crashes nationwide from 2015 through 2024. Of more than 10,000 deadly crashes occurring on school-year mornings between 7 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., crashes before sunrise had 77% higher odds of involving a pedestrian than crashes after sunrise.
For children ages 5 through 18, the difference was greater: the odds of a pedestrian being involved were more than twice as high on dark mornings. The findings do not mean that every pre-sunrise commute is dangerous, but they highlight how reduced visibility can affect students and drivers.
“Fall back” brings earlier morning light and earlier evening darkness.
FAQ: Preparing for the Time Change
How can US families help children adjust?
Keep bedtime and wake-up routines as consistent as possible in the days around the change. Families can also prepare backpacks, clothes and breakfast items the night before to make darker mornings less rushed.
What can make dark school commutes safer?
Children who walk or bike can use reflective clothing or accessories and follow familiar routes with safe crossings. Drivers should slow down near bus stops, crosswalks and school zones, especially before sunrise.
Why year round Daylight Saving Time matters for schools?
The policy debate affects more than evening daylight. Because school schedules are usually fixed, later winter sunrises could mean many more students begin their day traveling in the dark.