Daylight savings 2023 california

 Introduction

Daylight saving time (DST) is the practice of setting the clocks forward one hour from standard time during the summer months, and back again in the fall. The goal is to make better use of daylight. Daylight saving time was first introduced in the United States in 1918, and it has been observed by most states ever since.

In recent years, there has been growing support for abolishing daylight saving time. Critics argue that the clock changes are disruptive to people's sleep schedules and can lead to health problems. They also argue that the energy savings from daylight saving time are minimal.

In 2023, there is a new opportunity to end daylight saving time. The U.S. Senate passed a bill in March 2022 that would make daylight saving time permanent. The bill has not yet been passed by the House of Representatives, but it has gained momentum in recent months.

Why abolish daylight saving time?

There are several reasons why many people support abolishing daylight saving time.

Health risks: Sleep disruption is a major public health problem. Studies have shown that the clock changes associated with daylight saving time can lead to an increase in heart attacks, strokes, and other health problems.

Safety risks: The clock changes can also lead to an increase in accidents. A study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that there is a 6% increase in car crashes on the Monday after daylight saving time begins in the spring.

Economic costs: The benefits of daylight saving time in terms of energy savings are minimal. A study by the U.S. Department of Energy found that daylight saving time saves less than 1% of annual electricity consumption.

What are the alternatives to daylight saving time?

There are two main alternatives to daylight saving time:

Permanent standard time: This would mean that the clocks would never be changed, and we would observe standard time year-round.

Year-round daylight saving time: This would mean that the clocks would be set forward one hour in the spring and never set back, so we would observe daylight saving time year-round.

Which alternative is better?

There is no clear consensus on which alternative is better. Some people prefer permanent standard time because it would mean that we would have more daylight in the morning hours during the winter months. Others prefer year-round daylight saving time because it would mean that we would have more daylight in the evening hours during the summer months.

What is the future of daylight saving time?

It is unclear what the future of daylight saving time is. The U.S. Senate has passed a bill that would make daylight saving time permanent, but the bill has not yet been passed by the House of Representatives. There is also a growing movement to abolish daylight saving time altogether.

Conclusion

Daylight saving time is a controversial topic. There are strong arguments on both sides of the issue. It is important to weigh the pros and cons of each alternative before making a decision about the future of daylight saving time.

Additional information

In addition to the information above, here are some other things to consider about daylight saving time:

Not all states observe daylight saving time. Hawaii and Arizona do not observe daylight saving time.

Some states are considering abolishing daylight saving time. As of November 2023, at least 19 states have introduced legislation to abolish daylight saving time.

There is a growing body of scientific research on the health and safety risks of daylight saving time. A 2022 study published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour found that the clock changes associated with daylight saving time lead to a decrease in sleep duration and an increase in sleep disturbances. The study also found that the clock changes are associated with an increase in the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

What can you do?

If you are concerned about the health and safety risks of daylight saving time, you can contact your elected representatives and urge them to support legislation to abolish daylight saving time. You can also learn more about the issue and share information with your friends and family.