The basic idea of Daylight Saving Time is to make the best use of daylight hours (decreases the amount of daylight in the morning hours so that more daylight is available during the evening) by shifting the clock forward in the Spring and backward in the Fall. Benjamin Franklin is credited with the concept of Daylight Saving Time. Daylight Saving Time has been in use throughout much of the United States, Canada and Europe since World War I.
Daylight Saving Time Around the World
In US, President Lyndon Johnson signed an act into law in 1966 whereby Daylight Saving Time begins on the last Sunday of April and ends on the last Sunday of October each year. However, any State can opt out of Daylight Saving Time by passing a State law. Currently, Hawaii, Arizona and the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands do not observe Daylight Saving Time.
US Federal law was amended in 1986 to begin Daylight Saving Time on the first Sunday in April:
Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday of April
Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 a.m. on the last Sunday of October
In 2005, President Bush signed into law a new energy policy bill that would extend Daylight Saving Time by 4 weeks beginning in 2007:
Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 a.m. on the second Sunday of March
Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday of November
The corresponding time zones in Canada also switch to Daylight Saving Time on the same dates. However, some regions of in British Columbia and Saskatchewan do not use Daylight Saving Time. They include: Charlie Lake, Creston (East Kootenays), Dawson Creek, Fort St. John, and Taylor (all in British Columbia), and most of Saskatchewan (except Creighton and Denare Beach).
In Europe, Daylight Saving Time is referred to as Summer Time. Throughout most of western Europe (including members of the European Community (EC)):
Summer Time (Daylight Saving) Begins at 1 a.m. GMT on the last Sunday of March
Summer Time (Daylight Saving) Ends at 1 a.m. GMT on the last Sunday of October
Arguments About Daylight Saving Time
Benefits for Daylight Saving Time are
- More energy savings when people use more evening light than morning (lack of statistically significant evidence)
- Fewer number of traffic accidents and traffic fatalities
- Fewer incidences of crime
- More daylight outdoor playtime for the children and youth
- Greater utilization of parks and recreation areas
- Expanded economic opportunity through extension of daylight hours to peak shopping hours
- Greater overlap of US with the European Economic Community
Arguments against Daylight Saving Time
- People must remember to change their clocks
- Early birds, such as farmers and others who rise before dawn may have to operate in the dark a while longer before daybreak
- Millions of dollars to change schedules for airline industry
- Concerns from school systems that students will be waiting for the bus in darkness in the mornings
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