Here Are The Pros & Cons Of Daylight Saving Time Beginning This Weekend

The time has come to set our clocks forward and lose an hour of sleep due to daylight saving time (DST), which will begin this Sunday and last until November.

The debate as to whether this annual occurrence is necessary or not is ongoing, as some states continue to pass legislation that would make DST permanent throughout the entire year if permitted by federal law. 

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When did daylight saving time become a thing in the U.S.?

The United States Congress enacted the first daylight saving time on March 9, 1918, in an attempt to save energy due to the fact that coal power was the primary source, according to National Geographic.

Flash forward over 100 years and this is not so much the case, as Americans now use energy throughout the entire day and no longer rely on natural sunlight, meaning the amount saved by the sun being up longer is little. 

But some government officials, including Marco Rubio and James Lankford, believe it is time to make DST permanent across the country, with the recent reintroduction of the Sunshine Protection Act.

What are the pros of DST? 

Daylight saving time has statically shown to promote more safety across the U.S., as data collected by Procon.org shows that longer sunshine hours reduce the rate of car accidents and even robberies.

The time jump is also a big help to the American economy, as more people make their way to the shopping center after work or school if the sun is still high in the sky when they leave. 

And the cons? 

DST also offers some downsides. One that most people commonly associate with the time change is losing an hour of sleep, which is why many refer to the morning after as "Sleepy Monday."

Studies have also shown the time shift on the first morning of DST has been linked to an increase in the risk of heart attacks, due to it throwing off a body's natural sleep schedule.