People love to hate changing clocks twice a year, but can’t agree how to fix it

People Love to Hate Changing Clocks Twice a Year, But Can’t Agree How to Fix It

Most U.S. regions will advance their clocks by one hour at 2 a.m. on Sunday, leading to a day that lasts only 23 hours. This disruption affects sleep patterns, darkens early morning walks, and sparks widespread complaints. Despite consistent public dissatisfaction with the biannual clock adjustments, legislative changes to the system remain stalled due to divided opinions on its effects and alternatives.

Attempts to make daylight saving time permanent have gained traction, but they face challenges. For example, switching to year-round daylight saving would mean sunrise in Detroit occurs around 9 a.m. during winter months, while staying on standard time would result in 4:11 a.m. sunrises in Seattle in June. “There’s no law we can pass to move the sun to our will,” remarked Jay Pea, leader of Save Standard Time, which advocates for permanent standard time.

“The majority of the year we’re in daylight savings time,” said Genie Lauren, a healthcare worker in New York City. “What are we doing this for?”

Historically, the U.S. has experimented with time adjustments since the railroads established standardized time zones in 1883. Similar practices are observed in over 140 countries globally, though only about half maintain them year-round. Recent polling indicates that roughly 10% of U.S. adults support the current system, while nearly half oppose it, leaving around 40% undecided.

Some lawmakers favor a compromise. U.S. Rep. Greg Steube, a Florida Republican, suggested shifting the clock by 30 minutes to balance the two systems. This approach could align the U.S. with most global regions, though it would create a time difference with India and Nepal, where the sun is 15 minutes ahead. Advocates argue that permanent standard time, with sunlight reaching its peak near noon, could improve daily functioning for students, drivers, and others.

“Morning light is what’s really critical for setting our circadian rhythms each day,” noted Karin Johnson, a neurology professor and Save Standard Time leader. Kenneth Wright, director of the Sleep and Chronobiology Laboratory at the University of Colorado, added that the risk of fatal car crashes, heart attacks, and strokes rises after the clock change. He urged permanent standard time as the best option for public health and safety.

Currently, Arizona (excluding the Navajo Nation) and Hawaii do not observe daylight saving time. In recent years, 19 states—including parts of the South and the U.S. Northwest—have passed legislation to eliminate the biannual switch. However, these laws require congressional approval to take effect, a hurdle that persists despite the Senate approving a bill in 2022. A comparable House proposal has yet to reach a vote.

Political resistance highlights the complexity of the issue. U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, an Alabama Republican, noted that the airline industry’s concerns about scheduling disruptions have influenced lawmakers. Meanwhile, other states, like Virginia, have introduced bills to adopt permanent standard time, contingent on neighboring states following suit. A Virginia House committee recently delayed the discussion until 2027, reflecting ongoing uncertainty in the debate.