Since 1918, The United States has changed the clock twice a year as a part of a practice called daylight saving time. This phenomenon has not only become extremely misguided, but extremely outdated. It was created during World War 1, and the reasons behind it are unnecessary by today’s standards. Most people would agree that it doesn’t matter what time setting they decide on, as long as they decide on something because it is a cruel punishment to have to change the clocks back and forth every year.

  According to NYT’s Laura Prugh, there was an attempt at permanent daylight saving time in 1974. While it was in effect, only about 42 percent of the American population approved of it. Many parents did not like sending their children to school when it was so dark outside. Many young people were killed in car accidents, which led to the immediate undoing of the law.   Daylight savings is simply unnecessary.

   With the growing unpopularity of the occurrence and the fact that it disturbs the circadian rhythm of all that take part in it, it could prove to be very harmful. When people lose an hour of sleep, they are very tired. This causes many people to not function to their fullest ability which is dangerous for anyone who may work as a truck driver or a machine operator.

 According to the Sleep Foundation, “There is no single reason that clock changes have not been abolished already. Although surveys show that clock changes are generally unpopular, there is no consensus about whether permanent standard time or permanent daylight saving time is the best alternative.”

  While changing the clock is harmful, keeping the clock locked at either standard time or daylight savings time is better for people. Studies from the New York Times show that permanent daylight saving time leads to fewer animal-related car accidents per year. Permanent standard time means less daylight, which is shown to lead to a higher crime rate. 

  Nineteen states have passed laws calling for permanent daylight saving time, two states have passed laws calling for permanent standard time, and twenty-nine states (including Massachusetts) have no laws that call for either. State legislators are fighting over whether Massachusetts should stick to daylight saving time or to standard time.

  Daylight saving time is a ridiculous and brutal practice that was created to save energy at a time when women weren’t even allowed to vote yet. Times have changed, and there’s no point to it since it doesn’t save much energy anymore.