When the clocks sprung forward for daylight saving time this year, the echoes of a past national experiment came to mind—an attempt at permanent daylight saving time (DST) that lasted briefly in the early 1970s. This experiment, born from a pressing energy crisis, had Americans witnessing pitch-black mornings and sparked a public outcry for reversal.
In an effort to conserve energy during the oil embargo, the U.S. enacted the Emergency Daylight Saving Time Energy Conservation Act in 1973, a bold initiative that made daylight saving time the year-round standard for what was supposed to be a two-year trial period. This law, signed by President Nixon on December 15, 1973, set the nation’s clocks forward, but it was met with a swift backlash as the country grappled with its unintended, darker consequences.
The dark winter mornings particularly affected the safety of children heading to school. “It was jet black” outside when her daughter was supposed to leave for school, “some of the children took flashlights with them,” recounted Florence Bauer of Springfield. School start times were delayed and grim reports of accidents, including children being struck by cars, proliferated. “It’s time to recognize that we may well have made a mistake,” declared US Senator Dick Clark of Iowa.
Interestingly, while 79 percent of Americans initially approved of the change in December 1973, a sharp decline in approval to 42 percent was evident just three months later. The consensus was clear: the potential energy savings, estimated at 1 percent, could not outweigh public distaste. By late September 1974, a bill was passed to restore standard time, and President Ford’s signature on October 5 marked the end of the permanent daylight saving time experiment.
Nearly five decades later, the debate over daylight saving time has resurfaced. A bipartisan effort led by Sen. Marco Rubio with the Sunshine Protection Act seeks to make daylight saving time permanent again, potentially ending the biannual shifts that research links to negative impacts on health and safety. Yet, sleep experts and organizations such as the American Academy of Sleep Medicine advocate for permanent standard time instead, citing that it better aligns with our natural circadian rhythms. “It is time to stop changing our clocks in the spring and fall, but making daylight saving time permanent is the wrong choice,” said AASM President Jennifer Martin. “The science is clear: Restoring permanent, year-round standard time is the best option for our health and well-being.”
Relevant articles:
– The US Tried Permanent Daylight Saving Time in the ’70s. People Hated It,MARCH 15, 2022
– American Academy of Sleep Medicine continues to oppose permanent daylight saving time bill,March 2nd, 2023