If you live in the U.S., then chances are good that yesterday you had an extra hour of sleep. Of course, the chances are equally as good that you may have missed it, thinking that perhaps you were supposed to be up at the normal time, since you are so used to returning your clock to standard time on the last Sunday in October – not the first Sunday in November. All in all, it’s really quite a mess, and I’m just wondering if it’s worth the hassle.
The one thing that I’ve discovered as I get older is that I quite like standard time. I can’t describe it all that accurately, but it’s just like my body gets used to standard time quite easily. I don’t claim that it’s any great cosmic force or anything, but I do believe that a very base level, it just feels right. Of course, having to get all the clocks set to the right time is an utter pain. So why is it that we go through this mess anyway?
As I’ve come to understand it, in 1916, Germany and Austria of all people decided that they would save some daylight at the end of April. When they did some handful of other European countries took notice and picked up the torch within the next month or so, and Australia and that pioneer Newfoundland hopped on the train in 1917. Now I can understand that it made a small amount of sense in 1916 (and 1917 – didn’t mean to leave you out, Newfoundland). Electricity was new and shiny back then, and – presumably – expensive. It just wasn’t everywhere.
Germany needed the light to make bombs and such. Not trying to slight them or anything, just saying. Everyone else needed the light to keep up. It just makes sense. The U.S., not wanting to be left out, joined the party in 1918. But after the war, people thought that it was so bad, the law was actually repealed. Imagine that – the citizens of the country being so up in arms about Daylight Saving Time that the law was repealed. Cool.
Then along came the WWII, and FDR enacted year-round Daylight Saving Time. Now I’m not a genius, but I’m thinking that’s just something entirely different. I mean if you up and move the clocks entirely, it’s like you’re changing into a different time zone, right? But he did it.
After the war, it became a local choice, which if anything was worse. Some people did it, and some didn’t. Can you imagine walking down the street and finding out you had changed times because you entered a city that observed Daylight Saving Time? That would be horrible. Of course, not as many people traveled then, though business was picking up in this area, so it probably wasn’t as much of an issue as it would be today. But still, you have to wonder.
President Nixon instituted the Emergency Daylight Saving Time Energy Conservation Act of 1973 – on January 4, 1974. Go figure. On January 6, clocks were set ahead. They were set back in October, then forward again in February of 1975 and back again in October of that year. Talk about some wacky laws!
In 1986, Daylight Saving Time in the U.S. began at 2:00 a.m. on the first Sunday of April and ended at 2:00 a.m. on the last Sunday of October. This is probably what most of us are used to – though I could still never remember when it was supposed to happen! A couple of years ago,
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 extended Daylight Saving Time in the U.S. so that beginning in 2007, Daylight Saving Time would start on the second Sunday in March and end the first Sunday in November.
Why? Because they think that it will save energy. Go figure. Of course, Congress also retained the right to revert to the 1986 law should the change prove unpopular or if energy savings are not significant. In other words, they want the ability to take a mulligan if it doesn’t work out.
I think it sucks. A recent study shows increased pedestrian deaths after the time change. There’s a lengthy report you can read on the subject if you’re interested. They looked at potential savings from an extension of Daylight Saving Time done in Australia for the 2000 Olympics, and they found that the savings just weren’t there. We went out an bought some new clocks that set themselves automatically so that we don’t have to worry about them. Of course, we still have ovens and wall clocks and stuff, but this helps.
If Congress decides to switch back, we’ll have to do it all again. Software makers will have to send yet another software update to switch the plan back to the 1986 dates. In other words, whatever minimal benefit there might be is completely wiped out by the amount of investment it takes to get up-to-date with the new requirements. There is no way it can be worth it. What do you think?