Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who are expected to head a new government agency for efficiency in the upcoming Trump administration, poked the bear on time changes recently when Musk suggested ending the twice-a-year adjustment of our clocks — and our sleep — might save money. Ramaswamy agreed. We already know where President-elect Donald Trump stands on this issue. Maybe the stars are aligning for something to be done about this. Finally!
I tried to tackle this once before.
Credit: contributed
Credit: contributed
When I was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 2014, I never anticipated becoming involved in the debate over time change. I have always despised the twice-a-year ritual of shifting clocks between standard time and daylight saving time. It’s a human-made adjustment that artificially disrupts the creator’s design. Though I prefer the longer daylight hours of daylight saving time, my hope is for Georgia to be able pick one and stick with it — no more back-and-forth.
After four years of crazy legislative maneuvering, I was able to pass a bill in 2021 that will move Georgia to permanent daylight saving time should Congress give us the authority to do so.
The ritual of springing forward and falling back in the United States began in World War I in 1918 as a way to conserve energy. It ended after the war but returned in World War II. States made their own decisions on their clocks, resulting in confusion.
To fix this, the Uniform Time Act of 1966 standardized daylight saving time’s start and end dates, and it allowed states to opt out. Over time, Americans’ preference for evening daylight led to two extensions of daylight saving time, which now lasts nearly eight months of the year, leaving just four months of standard time.
What began as a wartime measure to save energy has evolved into a deeply entrenched practice. Yet the debate over its value persists. Are springing forward and falling back worth it, or should we abandon time change entirely?
The disruption caused by time changes is undeniable. Heart attacks rise 24% and fatal car accidents increase 6% in the week after springing forward, and pedestrian accidents spike after falling back because of darker evenings. Educators report that children take two weeks to adjust to time changes.
Because almost everyone hates time change, the debate has mainly shifted to which system to adopt: standard time or daylight saving time.
Permanent standard time aligns most closely with the natural solar day, making it the healthier option for our biological clocks. Advocates argue it would reduce sleep disorders & improve mental health. It’s also the simplest change to implement, as states already have the authority to do this.
However, permanent standard time would mean darker evenings, curtailing after-work activities and potentially harming businesses reliant on evening commerce.
Permanent daylight saving time extends evening daylight, encouraging outdoor activities, reducing crime and boosting the economy. Supporters argue it improves public health, with more daylight reducing seasonal depression and increasing opportunities for exercise.
However, critics warn that darker mornings — especially in winter — could be dangerous for schoolchildren and commuters, while the misalignment with the natural solar day might cause health issues.
In my informal social media survey of more than 1,000 people, 90% support eliminating time change. When asked to choose, 70% preferred permanent daylight saving time. This mirrors national surveys, where it is more popular than standard time.
I am with the majority on this. I prefer permanent daylight saving time but would be happy to move to permanent standard time to eliminate time change.
Adopting permanent daylight saving time would result in later sunrises during winter but extend evening daylight. For example, in Atlanta, under year-round daylight saving time, the earliest sunset would occur at 6:28 p.m. The latest would be 8:52 p.m. On the other hand, the earliest sunrise would be 6:26 a.m. and the latest 8:43 a.m.
Year-round daylight saving time would also require the least adjustment, as we already spend eight months in daylight saving time.
Momentum is building for change. At least 23 states have passed legislation to stick with one or the other, most favoring permanent daylight saving time. Twenty-three others are considering similar measures. In the Southeast, almost every state has passed legislation similar to ours. The trend line is moving toward a permanent solution.
The century-old practice of shifting clocks no longer serves its original purpose. Most Georgians agree it’s time to stop the clock changes, but the debate over standard time vs. daylight saving time remains. Whatever path is chosen, the ultimate goal should be to end the biannual disruption and establish a consistent time system that prioritizes health, safety and societal well-being.
For me, the choice is clear: Let’s embrace the daylight and adopt daylight saving time year-round.
Bipartisan legislation has been repeatedly introduced in both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House. The saying “It would take an act of Congress” is literally true in this case!
I have reached out to both our senators and my congressman to support this measure. If this issue is important to you, I suggest you do the same.
Wes Cantrell is the associate pastor of administration at the First Baptist Church of Woodstock, where he has served for the past 19 years. From 2015 to 2022, he represented District 22 in the Georgia House of Representatives, where he chaired the Small Business Development Committee and served on the Education, Juvenile Justice and Energy committees.
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