OPINION: Having Daylight Savings Time Year-Round is Dangerous
Dear Editor,
Since changing to Daylight Saving Time (DSL) last Sunday, media opinionators are talking about making it year-round. Permanent DSL is a terrible, dangerous idea. Setting the clocks ahead one hour moves an hour of morning light to the end of the day. That’s great between March 21 and September 21, when there is more daylight than night. But for the winter-half of the year, we need more light in the morning when kids are going to school.
Our children go to school at about the same time that commuters are starting their treks to work. Darkness and early morning sun in commuters’ eyes create dangerous hazards. Later in the day, schools end before most commuters return home, so evening darkness is not as dangerous.
As it is, Daylight Saving Time ends in November, nearly two months past the September 21 Equinox. Shortening, not lengthening, the DST period would make mornings safer for our children and grandchildren.
Yours truly,
Bruce Joffe, Piedmont Resident
There might be more advantages to year around Pacific Standard Time than to year around DST. But we know from the election that people prefer having no time change at all.
If initiated, no time change will be well received. Daylight Savings Time is the preferred option. I prefer daylight over darkness.