The Daylight Savings Debate

In 2025, the debate continues on whether the US should continue with Daylight Saving Time (DST), with many Americans, including some sleep experts, advocating for year-round standard time due to potential health and safety concerns associated with the time changes.

Here's a breakdown of the situation:

The Current Situation:
Daylight Saving Time begins on Sunday, March 9, 2025, and ends on Sunday, November 2, 2025.

The Debate:
- Arguments for Year-Round Standard Time:
  - Health Concerns: Sleep experts argue that the time changes disrupt natural sleep-wake cycles (circadian rhythm) and can lead to increased risks of accidents, heart attacks, and other health problems.
  - Safety Concerns: Some studies suggest that the time change can lead to increased traffic accidents and crime rates.
- Arguments for Year-Round Daylight Saving Time:
  - Energy Savings: Some argue that extending daylight hours can lead to reduced energy consumption.
  - Economic Benefits: Proponents suggest that longer daylight hours can boost economic activity and tourism.
  - Safety: Some argue that more daylight in the evening can improve safety and promote outdoor activities.
Political Landscape:
- The "Sunshine Protection Act," which would make Daylight Saving Time permanent, was passed by the Senate in 2022 but stalled in the House.
- Some states have also considered legislation to opt out of the time changes, but federal approval is required.
Public Opinion:
- Polls show that a significant portion of Americans would prefer to stop changing clocks twice a year, with some favoring year-round standard time and others favoring year-round Daylight Saving Time.
Examples of States that have opted out of DST:
- Arizona and Hawaii have opted to remain on standard time year-round.
The bottom line:
The debate over Daylight Saving Time is ongoing, with no clear consensus on whether to continue with the current practice or make a permanent change.

Do other countries do daylight savings time?

Fewer than 40 percent of countries in the world currently apply daylight savings time switches, although more than 140 countries had implemented them at some point. So far, permanent standard/winter time is only adhered to in two parts of the U.S.: Hawaii and most of Arizona.

Australia and New Zealand observe daylight savings time, and Japan does not. In September, 2021 Te Anau a town on the South Island of New Zealand, announced they would not be turning their clocks back the next April.

Here's a more detailed explanation about Te Anau Time:

In 2021, the town of Te Anau, in Fiordland, New Zealand, made a public announcement that it would not be turning its clocks back for Daylight Saving Time (DST) and would remain on daylight saving time permanently.
Why Te Anau Time?

The decision was a marketing stunt designed to promote Te Anau as a tourist destination, emphasizing that there was so much to do that visitors needed an extra hour of daylight to see it all.
Impact:

The "Te Anau Time" campaign gained significant media attention and helped to put Te Anau on the map, resulting in a busy summer for the town's businesses.
No Longer Observed:

Te Anau continues to not observe DST and remains on daylight saving time, effectively creating a unique time zone for the town.