The Push for Permanent Standard Time

In a significant move, the American Medical Association (AMA) has allied with various health organizations, sleep experts, and the national PTA to persuade the U.S. Congress to abolish the twice-a-year clock changes in favor of a permanent Standard Time.

“Changing our clocks has long been a practice aimed at extending daylight, but it comes with public health and safety risks,” stated Dr. Alexander Ding, an AMA Trustee. “Transitioning to permanent Standard Time would not only offer health advantages but also eliminate the ongoing conflict between our internal biological clocks and the time dictated by our alarms.” This declaration followed a policy meeting involving AMA delegates.

Earlier in the year, the Senate voted unanimously to make Daylight Saving Time (DST) permanent instead of Standard Time, but the proposal has stalled in the House of Representatives. Sleep specialists have since argued for maintaining Standard Time, especially after most states reverted to it on November 6.

The transition to DST every spring is often linked to a temporary increase in car accidents and heart attacks, attributed to sleep deprivation. In contrast, Standard Time provides more morning light throughout the year, which is believed to enhance safety for school children and better align with our natural circadian rhythms that regulate sleep-wake patterns. Morning daylight plays a crucial role in signaling our body clocks when to be alert and when to wind down for sleep.

This is supported by detailed scientific explanations shared earlier this month, including a graphic illustrating why sleep experts advocate for the elimination of DST:

While a majority of Americans favor ending the biannual clock changes, opinions vary on whether Standard Time should be the default. A reader, L.A. Strucke, expressed a preference for permanent DST in the comments of a prior article, noting that coming out of work to darkness is challenging, particularly for those with traditional work hours. Many people dislike grocery shopping in the dark, often leading to errands being pushed into lunch breaks and weekends.

Understanding these preferences is important; however, the scientific community advocates for a change that would enhance the well-being of most individuals.

Dr. Randy Nelson, a professor at West Virginia University’s Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, emphasized the public health implications: “Transitioning between DST and Standard Time is unsustainable. The shift to DST in spring disrupts the alignment between morning light and our circadian system. This misalignment is most acute shortly after the change but can last for about eight months. Permanent DST would worsen this misalignment for an entire year.”

Organizations supporting a shift to permanent Standard Time include:

• World Sleep Society
• European Sleep Research Society
• U.S.-based Sleep Research Society
• American Academy of Sleep Medicine
• American College of Occupational & Environmental Medicine
• National Safety Council
• National PTA

“Eliminating the clock changes in March and November would be a positive step,” Ding remarked. “Research indicates that permanent Daylight Saving Time poses health risks that could be avoided with a transition to permanent Standard Time. Sleep experts are concerned that factors beyond patient health are influencing this discussion. It’s time we acknowledge the health consequences associated with clock adjustments.”

Implementing any change would require congressional action, and currently, there appears to be no momentum toward that goal.