With all the horrible stuff going on right now, it’s easy to forget the stuff that’s still important to keep on our collective to-do lists. One of those things is getting rid of the damn time change.
Here are the key points. I may add links and references in later edits.
- There’s scant evidence, at best, that it has any benefit in terms of energy savings.
- There is a growing body of research suggesting that link the time change to increases in car accidents, heart attacks, and suicide.
- The statement “The benefits of disrupting the circadian rhythms of hundreds of millions of people, all at the same time, outweigh the risks and costs.” is so prima facie absurd that the burden of proof should really be 100% on anyone who subscribes to it.
- This is doable. There is currently bipartisan legislation in Congress calling for “locking the clock” or “ditching the switch”, that would allow states to adopt permanent daylight savings time. Alternatively, under the current statute, states don’t need Congressional approval to adopt “standard” time year round. I really don’t have a dog in the fight, as far as which of these we ultimately pick.
- As to the relative importance of something as seemingly trivial as abolishing the time change, to other important threats, I pose this question:
Does being chased by a tiger make keeping your shoes tied more or less important?