[New York Diary]Will the Clock Moved Forward by One Hour Be the Last Time?

Stories from Everyday Life in America, Told from New York

The second Sunday of March. As the clock was moved forward by one hour, I wondered, "When will this be the last time?" It was the day when the so-called Daylight Saving Time (DST, Summer Time), which advances the standard time by one hour ahead of the long daylight hours in summer in the United States, was applied. For several days afterward, I lived in an unusually tired state. I was not the only one complaining of a strange fatigue. Even though the clock was moved forward by just one hour, it took quite a while for the disrupted biological rhythm to return to normal. Now, on the first Sunday of November, the clock will have to be set back by one hour again.

According to daylight saving time, the clock changes from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. on the second Sunday of March every year.

In the United States, the Daylight Saving Time system, which has continued for over 100 years, has been the subject of long-standing debate. Complaints pour in from many places about why the inconvenience of adjusting the clock twice a year must be repeated. It is seen as a kind of "josam-mosa" (a Korean idiom meaning a futile or pointless effort). There are also significant concerns that the repeated artificial time changes negatively affect health. Statistics in the U.S. have already confirmed that traffic accidents increase in the weeks immediately after the implementation and repeal of DST, along with reports of heart attacks and deaths.

If the system is unreasonable and only causes inconvenience, it needs to be boldly revised and corrected. It seems that public opinion within the U.S. has gained considerable momentum that the current situation cannot continue. Last year, the federal Senate unanimously passed the "Sunshine Protection Act," raising prospects that the advanced Daylight Saving Time would be made permanent. However, this bill was ultimately stalled in the House of Representatives.

Senator Marco Rubio, a Republican who introduced the bill at the time, reintroduced it earlier this month. Rubio stated, "Changing the time twice a year is foolish," and claimed, "This bill enjoys overwhelming public support." However, some members of the House remain skeptical. Their opinion is that further research and discussion are needed on whether to maintain the current system, apply the current standard time year-round, or apply Daylight Saving Time year-round.

In particular, there is significant controversy over which time to choose between the current standard time and Daylight Saving Time. Proponents of Daylight Saving Time, including Senator Rubio, focus on practicality. They argue that longer daylight hours will expand economic productivity and reduce crime and car accidents. There are also opinions that it is good because people can spend more time on personal hobbies and family-centered activities after work. Heather, a 30-something office worker who commutes from Brooklyn to Manhattan around 6 a.m. on weekdays, said, "It's definitely better to commute when it's a bit brighter. It feels like there is more leisure time after work," supporting the permanent adoption of Daylight Saving Time.

On the other hand, those who argue for fixing the current standard time emphasize human biological rhythms. They say the current standard time is more suitable for the 24-hour biological cycle. There are many analyses suggesting that applying the artificially advanced Daylight Saving Time year-round would disrupt biological rhythms and lead to health deterioration. Additionally, contrary to the initial purpose of introducing Daylight Saving Time, there are criticisms that the energy-saving effect by utilizing daylight is minimal.

The future of Daylight Saving Time remains uncertain. Although Senator Rubio has reintroduced the bill, it is unknown whether it will pass the House this time or be stalled again. Currently, 19 states including Florida, Georgia, Maine, South Carolina, and Utah have passed laws in their state legislatures to make Daylight Saving Time permanent and are awaiting decisions from the federal Congress. Related bills have also been introduced in New York State.