It’s time to “Spring Forward” as Daylight Saving begins this Sunday, March 10th
Despite many Americans’ aversion to having to “spring forward” and “fall back” each year because of daylight saving time (DST), recent attempts by states to switch to permanent DST have gone dark. That is despite growing support to eliminate the changing of clocks twice yearly. A survey by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine in 2020 found that 63% of Americans support a national, permanent, year-round routine.
The Sunshine Protection Act aims to do just that. The bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senator Marco Rubio of Florida in March last year, was read twice, and was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Progress has yet to be made since then. Under the bill’s provisions, no clock changes would occur in the spring and fall. Senator Rubio’s Sunshine Protection Act would eliminate the changing of clocks to standard time for the current four months. If enacted, we would not “spring forward” or “fall back” in March and November and enjoy a full year of DST instead of only eight months.
Arizona, Hawaii, and U.S. territories already following permanent standard time would be exempt from the law. These states and territories would continue using their current permanent standard time system.
What’s the impact of a permanent shift to DST on truckers?
Humans are most vulnerable to sleep deprivation in early March as they transition from Standard Time to DST. One study found that the average person receives 40 minutes less sleep on the Monday after “Springing Forward” compared to other nights of the year. In addition to sleep loss, people are at greater risk of mood disturbance, suicide, and being involved in traffic accidents during both bi-annual transition periods. Truckers navigating urban areas are particularly at risk of accidents as pedestrians, commuters, and school students walk and drive to work in the dark.
Experts from different fields have weighed in on DST. While most sleep scientists prefer permanent standard time, many economists and business experts favor permanent DST. Sleep scientists have forcefully argued that the potentially harmful health effects on sleep, physical, academic, and mental health justify a policy of permanent standard time, as do auto accidents.
Analysts supporting permanent DST say that more daylight in the evening could improve public safety, increase social and commercial activity, and lower electricity use. For truckers and shift workers, more light in the evenings means sleep occurs much later, resulting in less sleep and higher accident rates.
Top tips for preparing for Daylight Saving time
You can prepare to “spring forward” in March by gradually shifting your schedule in the week leading up to the time change. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine advises adjusting your schedule slowly by going to bed around 15-20 minutes earlier each day.
The timing of other daily activities, such as meals and exercise, can also be gradually adjusted forward. By making these changes gradually over the week before the time change, you begin daylight saving time, having already started to acclimate to the new time on the clock.
It’s also essential to obtain quality sleep in the nights leading up to the time change. If you enter the daylight saving weekend already sleep-deprived, you’ll likely have significant ill effects in response to the time change this Sunday.
