Daylight Savings

By Scarlett Shelley

On the first Sunday of each November, the often feared daylight savings comes our way. At 2:00 a.m. EST, all clocks will fall back one hour, resulting in an extra hour of sleep. Although this may sound wonderful, many have found that we no longer need to turn the clocks forward and back each year.

​According to Time Record News, the clocks will move ahead one hour or fall behind one hour, in all but Hawaii and Arizona (in the US), twice a year. Web Exhibits reports that daylight savings was originally invented in 1918, towards the end of World War I, to conserve electricity, but it has been found in recent years that daylight savings increases the amount of energy used.

According to Time and Date, a 2006 study conducted in Indiana found that energy consumption increased after daylight savings was implemented. Additional studies have found that daylight savings can cause sickness in many people by disrupting their natural circadian rhythms. Some serious consequences that can be linked to this disruption range from car accidents to miscarriages. Time and Date also reported that daylight savings costs more money. Since computers and other electronic devices have to be programmed to change times on certain days, the prices of these devices have increased. Because of the possible negative consequences of daylight savings, many people feel strongly about the abolition of daylight savings, and petitions have been created by End Daylight Savings Time. 

On the other side of this argument, some people find it to be safer with daylight savings because it gets brighter earlier. When daylight savings occurs, a 7% reduction in shoplifting has been reported by Time and Date. Also, with daylight savings, there are longer evenings of daylight, which more people seem to enjoy because they can stay out later. When the clock falls back an hour, people gain an hour of sleep, which many appreciate. 

​There are many pros and cons of daylight savings, but the consequences seem to outweigh the benefits. I would gladly go with End Daylight Savings Time and sign the petition.