Daylight Savings has been around for a long time. It was first started in 1918 as a way to conserve fuel by extending daylight hours. Daylight Saving Time (DST) was originally used to conserve energy during times of war, and its importance in modern society is questionable. The shift on the clock disrupts several things: sleep pattern, shifts, the body’s natural rhythm, etc. . . With all of this information, should DST be kept? Is it truly a necessity in modern times?
The debate surrounding DST is on whether the clock shift is worth the disturbance it causes. Studies have shown that accidents are a lot more likely after the spring daylight saving adjustment. According to this article, “in 1988 the cost of sleep-related accidents exceeded $56 billion and included 24,318 deaths and 2,474,430 disabling injuries” (Coren). This is due to the disrupted sleep pattern and natural circadian rhythm; the circadian rhythm is a 24-hour cycle controls sleep-wake patterns. This disrupted pattern can lead to deprivation and fatigue, which weakens driving ability and concentration, thus increasing the risk of collision. DST may also be a hazard for young children heading to school. Quite a few children walk to school, and they could be potentially affected by tired driving.
Daylight Savings isn’t all bad, there are a quite few benefits to it as well. Most notably, businesses, like those in retail, benefit from increased consumer activity during the extended daylight hours. As stated by Allen, “The retail industry still seems to be the biggest advocate…they argue that extended evening daylight encourages people to shop after work.” This increased consumer activity allows less products to go to waste, and in the process increasing profit for the store. It has also been studied that people are a lot more likely to go outdoors due to the extended daylight hours. Parents are less likely to be worried, and it will also lower electricity usage by relying on more natural light rather than artificial light.
There are valid arguments for both sides; Daylight Savings can have a few unintended consequences, but it still has most of the benefits it was originally meant for. Just as there are people advocating for its abolishment, there are just as many wishing to keep DST. Some may think the risks far outweigh the benefits, and vice versa. Should DST be kept, and is it truly a necessity?
