Daylight Saving Time concludes early Sunday morning, November 1st, as clocks are set back one hour at 2:00 AM. This adjustment grants individuals an additional hour of sleep and shifts daylight to earlier mornings, while evenings will consequently become darker sooner.
Most modern electronic devices, including cellphones, will automatically update to the new time. Owners of analog clocks will need to manually adjust them one hour earlier. While the return to standard time is often welcomed for the extra sleep, many anticipated an end to the bi-annual practice of changing clocks.
Daylight Saving Time was initially established in the United States with the Standard Time Act of 1918. Although numerous attempts have been made throughout the years to abolish it, legislative efforts continue. A current proposal, the Sunshine Protection Act, aims to establish permanent Daylight Saving Time. However, its passage is considered improbable this year.
The Sunshine Protection Act would involve advancing clocks by one hour in March as usual, but subsequently maintaining this time year-round, resulting in later sunrises and extended evening daylight during winter months. Proponents argue this change would optimize daylight for post-work and post-school activities. Former President Donald Trump has previously supported this measure, even urging constituents to contact Senator Tom Cotton regarding his opposition, which cites concerns about children commuting to school in darkness.
Conversely, a contingent of sleep scientists and medical professionals advocate for making standard time permanent, positing that it aligns better with natural sleep cycles and mitigates health risks. Additional research suggests that permanent Daylight Saving Time could potentially increase pedestrian-vehicle collisions due to darker morning commutes.
States have historically possessed the authority to opt out of Daylight Saving Time with congressional consent, though the majority of the United States observes the practice. Exceptions include Hawaii, most of Arizona, and U.S. territories. California voters approved a measure in 2018 to permit the legislature to end Daylight Saving Time, but subsequent legislative attempts have not been successful.
