Daylight Saving Time, or DST, was implemented during WWI to decrease energy utilization. While modern technology (specifically, AC units) makes the energy savings a wash, there are a lot of other benefits to the extended daytime hours.
While mornings are darker, evenings are lighter for longer. This leads to:
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- Increased exercise and outdoor activity
- Lower crime, as the amount of time people are out in the dark decreases
- Increased economic activity, as people are more likely to shop at night when it’s still light out
- Fewer traffic accidents, as it’s easier to drive in sunlight
Additionally, removing the transition between the different times would:
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- Decrease traffic accidents that result from people being tired
- Alleviate the increase in heart attacks seen following the time change
- Prevent us from needing to reset our clocks (a minor annoyance, but an annoyance!)
- Prevent us from being late to work (or exceedingly early, depending on the season)
Problems to be Solved
- checkThe switch from DST and back causes many issues
- checkPeople generally prefer sunlight in the evening hours
- The switch from Daylight Savings Time literally kills people in accidents every year because people are drowsy. I would advocate for a permanent adoption of Daylight Savings Time. No more hour-switching. Let’s just pick the time and stick to it.
Goals
- checkDecrease traffic accidents, heart attacks, and crime
- checkIncrease exercise and economic activity
As President I will...
- Work with Congress to pass the Sunshine Protection Act at a national level (thanks for the name, Florida!)