Time running out for daylight saving in Ohio?
— Daylight saving time is known for causing people to run late to work or stress about changing their clocks. And some believe daylight saving has more serious health effects to be concerned about.
Daylight saving time begins in the U.S. each year on the second Sunday in March and clocks are moved forward one hour. On the first Sunday of November, daylight saving ends and the clocks are moved back an hour to standard time.
All states, besides Hawaii and Arizona, participate in daylight saving time. States may opt out of observing the time change through action by the state legislature.
Two Ohio lawmakers have proposed to end the changing of the clock and stay on daylight saving time all year.
Senate Bill 119, or Ohio’s Sunshine Protection Act, would exempt Ohio from the federal requirement to change between standard and daylight saving time.
State Senators Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson) and Bob Peterson (R-Washington Court House) testified on behalf of the legislation in April.
“This is an important discussion to have given how modern technology has changed the way we live our lives today, as well as the fact nobody enjoys the “spring forward” and losing an hour of sleep,” Peterson said.
Daylight saving time was first instituted in the United States during World War I. The purpose was to extend daylight working hours to use less artificial light and save fuel for the war effort.
According to a survey by The Associated Press, only 28% of Americans want to continue changing the clocks while 70% would prefer to stick with standard or daylight saving time.
According to Insider, changing the clocks can cause sleep deprivation, increase risk for cardiovascular conditions, lead to workplace injuries or car crashes and seasonal affective disorder.
Several states, including Florida, have already voted to make daylight savings permanent but the laws have not taken effect because approval is required on the federal level.