At Thursday's Senate Commerce Committee hearing, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) called to end Daylight Saving Time.
Fuel your success with Forbes. Gain unlimited access to premium journalism, including breaking news, groundbreaking in-depth reported stories, daily digests and more. Plus, members get a front-row seat at members-only events with leading thinkers and doers, access to premium video that can help you get ahead, an ad-light experience, early access to select products including NFT drops and more:
Stay Connected Forbes on Facebook: http://fb.com/forbes Forbes Video on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/forbes Forbes Video on Instagram: http://instagram.com/forbes More From Forbes: http://forbes.com
01:40Research has shown that the abrupt shift in time, especially the spring transition, when we lose an hour of sleep, disrupts our
01:48internal circadian rhythms and causes sleep deprivation.
01:52This leads to increased risks of health problems, including higher rates of heart attacks, strokes, and even car accidents immediately following the time change.
02:03In fact, studies have shown that there is a spike in workplace injuries and fatal car crashes during the days after we shift our clocks forward.
02:12The disruption to sleep patterns and the resultant fatigue can have consequences on our productivity, mental health, and well-being.
02:24The time change is also an inconvenience for families.
02:27For parents, especially those with young children, adjusting to the time change is no simple task.
02:34Sleep disruptions can result in cranky children, restless nights, and a difficult adjustment period that can last for weeks.
02:42We also need to consider the economic and social impact.
02:46There are arguments that longer daylight hours in the evening can boost economic activity in certain sectors, such as retail, tourism, and entertainment.
02:56For instance, late afternoon golf leagues account for up to 40% of the annual revenue of some courses,
03:04while a majority of golf instructors reported that nearly 50% of their lessons are taught after 4 p.m.
03:12A golf course would lose an estimated $500,000 annually if it lost the extra hour of daylight in the summer.
03:21Of course, the early birds, who like 7 a.m. tea times, might be a bit annoyed with this shift.
03:28Many states and countries like Mexico and Russia and Turkey have already taken steps to move away from changing clocks twice a year.
03:36Hawaii and Arizona have opted out of the practice, and other countries in the past ten years have either abolished it or are in the process of doing so.
03:45Congress has the authority to end this outdated and harmful practice.
03:50This hearing is an excellent opportunity to examine a thoughtful and rational approach to how we manage time.
03:57Whether we lock the clock on standard time year-round or on daylight savings time,
04:04let's think carefully about our health, our economy, and well-being and embrace a sensible approach to time management.
