Angel Tello

Sunshine Protection Act

Many of us are familiar with Daylight Saving Time, ecstatic when we have an extra hour of sleep and dreading the day a few months later when it gets taken away from us. In the future, we can see an end to this cycle, but first it’s important to know where it came from. Daylight Saving Time (DST) was enacted in the United States, following Germany’s 1916 effort to conserve fuel during World War I, and its period of observance has since been lengthened. Originally mandated for six months, in 2005, Congress extended DST to begin on the second Sunday in March and end the first Sunday in November. As a result, the United States now enjoys eight months of DST, and only four months of standard time (November to March). The United States has also gone through periods where we have had year-round DST, including in 1942-1945 and 1974-1975. Senator Rubio’s Sunshine Protection Act would eliminate the changing of clocks to standard time for those four months. In sum, if enacted, we would not “fall back” in November and would enjoy a full year of DST, instead of only eight months.

By Angel Tello

This plan has many benefits to both u us and our environment. If enacted, we can see a reduction of car crashes and car accidents involving pedestrians due to better aligning daylight hours to drivers’ standard work hours increases visibility, according to the American Journal of Public Health and the Journal of Safety Research. This can also reduce the number of vehicle collisions with wildlife by 8 – 11 percent by shifting normal traffic patterns to an hour off from nocturnal wildlife’s behavior. Studies have shown that a full year of DST can reduce the risk for cardiac issues, stroke, and seasonal depression. It can also reduce childhood obesity and increase physical fitness. According to studies published by the International Journal Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity and the Journal of Physical Activity and Health, children see an increase in physical activity during DST. The Journal of Environmental Psychology found that DST increased pedestrian activity by 62% and cyclists’ activity by 38% because of additional daylight. It can additionally reduce the number of robberies by 27%.

According to a 2015 Brookings Institution, because of additional daylight in the evenings.

We can also see benefits to the economy, according to a study by JP Morgan Chase, which found that there is a drop in economic activity of 2.2% – 4.9% when clocks move back. With a full year of DST, we won’t experience this percentage decrease. Also, we can see a boost in the agricultural economy, which is disproportionately disrupted by biannual changes in time by upsetting the synergy between farmers’ schedules and their supply chain partners. We can see a reduction in energy usage, as a 2008 study by the U.S. Department of Energy found that during the 4 weeks the U.S. extended daylight savings from the 2005 law, there were savings of about 0.5 percent in electricity per day. Later studies have also shown that the energy savings are minimal, but a small savings does occur, nonetheless.

Overall, enacting this policy can have many benefits for both the economy and health of the public and can be one of the few bright positives coming out of Florida recently.

Manfredini, Roberto. “European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences.” European Review, 2018, https://www.europeanreview.org/wp/wpcontent/uploads/750-755.pdf.

Sipilä JO;Ruuskanen JO;Rautava P;Kytö. “Changes in Ischemic Stroke Occurrence Following Daylight Saving Time Transitions.” Sleep Medicine, U.S. National Library of Medicine, https:// pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27938913/ .

“Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 14 Dec. 2021, https:// www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonalaffective-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20364651.

Farrell, Diana. “Shedding Light on Daylight Saving Time.” Shedding Light on Daylight Saving Time, Nov. 2016, https://www.jpmorganchase.com/institute/ research/cities-local-communities/jpmc-institutedaylight-savings-report.

Matulka, Rebecca. “Top 8 Things You Didn't Know about Daylight Saving Time.” Energy.gov, 6 Mar. 2014, https://www.energy.gov/articles/top-8-thingsyou-didn-t-know-about-daylight-saving-time.

MCFERRIN, CLAY. “Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent.” Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent | The Sun-Sentinel, 17 Mar. 2022, https:// www.tallahatchienews.ms/editorialslocal-content-opinion/make-daylightsaving-timepermanent#sthash.QvRbFNss.dpbs.

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