Jumping Forward

 It's that time of year again, when we turn our clocks one hour forward and suffer with our internal clocks being off for at least a week.  Where I live, its suddenly light until after 9:00 at night.  Its hard to get to bed at a reasonable time, when its light so late.  It gets harder as the season progresses and it doesn't get dark much at all.

From some reading I did, it appears that there is a movement afoot to get rid of jumping forward every spring and falling back every fall.

Right now Hawaii, Arizona, and Puerto Rico currently do not participate in this traditional dance but other states wish to join them in avoiding the change.  The shifting is covered by the Uniform Time Act of 1966 which imposed and regulated going on and off Daylight Saving Time.

It is well known there is an increase in heart attacks, car crashes, and increased lengths of judicial sentences every time we go onto Daylight Saving Time but people have become tired of it. When Daylight Saving Time was originally introduced in 1966, no one knew much about it except it seemed to give people time at the end of the day but over time, scientists have researched it effects and have concluded there are no real benefits to use it.

Although the Uniform Time Acts of 1966 controls when things change, it does allow states to opt out of this at anytime and remain on Standard time but it doesn't cover states opting out and remaining on Daylight Saving time year round.  Congress would have to change the wording to allow it.

Many states are considering opting out but they want to be on Daylight Saving Time year round.  A large number of people, over 60%,  in California signed a ballot proposition to remain on daylight savings time year round and then at least one lawmaker has submitted a proposal to have California remain on daylight savings time.

In addition, last year Florida passed declared they would not go off of Daylight Saving Time pending congressional action to change the Uniform Time Act.  Oregon and Washington States are also going this way but there is another way to go onto Daylight Saving Time year round without opting out of the Uniform Time Act.

The other way would be to have your state moved one time zone east, thereby putting themselves effectively on Daylight Saving Time year round.  This requires approval of the Department of Transportation rather than Congress.  Many New England States such as New Hampshire, and Maine have proposed doing that and moving to "Atlantic Standard Time".  This will accomplish the move to Daylight Saving Time year round.

This could create an interesting dilemma in that a person crossing state lines could end up moving two hours ahead instead of one.  Its possible other states might be on the same time during certain times of year when they are all on Daylight Saving Time and could be an hour apart when on Standard time.

Its an interesting movement.  I know in Alaska, we don't know why we have to shift on and off because we have such a huge difference between summer and winter in terms of the length of daylight that I'd just as soon not do it.

Let me know your thoughts, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.