Before you get excited, Daylight Saving Time (DST) is not ending across the United States. Although Senator Marco Rubio did reintroduce the Sunshine Protection Act — a bill that would do away with DST — in March 2023, we’re still waiting to see if it will move forward. So far, only two states — Hawaii and Arizona — have opted out of DST, and that was back in the 1960s. So far, 19 states have passed legislation calling for discontinuing DST if allowed. What would happen if there were no more DST? Here are some of the benefits of getting rid of the time change:
- • Better sleep — It can take 5-7 days for your body to adjust to a new time schedule, and the disruption in sleep can lead to even bigger health issues.
- • Reduced risk of heart attacks and strokes — Research has found that the spring DST changes are associated with a 24% increase in heart attacks and strokes on the Monday following the change. However, research also shows that heart attacks and strokes decrease by 21% the week DST ends in the fall. If more states got rid of DST, it’s possible that more lives could be saved overall.
- • Reduced costs — A major con that comes with DST is that it’s very costly for companies, since business hours and operations need to adjust every spring. In fact, experts estimate that the biannual time change costs the U.S. around $430 million every year.
- • Fewer auto accidents — The changing of the clocks has also been associated with an increase in fatal auto accidents, particularly on the Monday following the spring shift. Experts theorize that these auto accidents occur because drivers are tired from losing the hour of sleep after the spring change. If there was no more daylight saving time, the number of fatal accidents could be reduced.
- • Lower crime rates — Research has found that by extending evening daylight hours, as we do in the spring, crime rates actually go down, with robberies being reduced by 7% from the day before, and overall crime going down by 27% in the additional evening hour of sunlight gained on that day. On the flip side, another study found that with the hour of daylight lost in the fall, assault rates went up by 3% on the Monday following the time change.
