I don't know about you, while I don't even notice the "fall back" it takes me days to recover from the "spring forward." Each year, Americans perform the semi-annual ritual of moving their clocks either one hour later, or one earlier depending on the season.
While it doesn't seem to be a big deal, to many it's quite a nuisance. Showing up early or late for church services, having to find the instruction manuals once again to remember how to reset the clocks on electronics like televisions, stove tops and of course that pesky clock in your car, or just feeling like things are "out of wack" are just a few of the annoyances we put up with each year.
So who decided that this was a good idea?
Actually, the idea was first proposed by Benjamin Franklin to better utilize the sunlight. Of course, the thought didn't immediately catch on but was reintroduced during the first World War. This time, a law was passed, but quickly repealed due to its lack of popularity. Some states continued to turn back the clocks, but there was little consistency from state to state.
Enter Congress. The Uniform Time Act of 1966 created Daylight Saving Time in 1966 and today we continue to move our clocks with the sun at the same time and on the same Sundays each year.
Why?
According to the Department of Transportation, Daylight Savings Time helps us:
- Conserve energy
- Reduce traffic accidents
- And encourage economic activity
Retailers love it... farmers hate it! And studies are mixed regarding its effectiveness.
Energy saving or not, there's one reason for the time change that none of us pilots would dispute. That extra hour of daylight during the most pleasant times of the year give each of us the opportunity to wind down after work and watch the sun set from 2000 feet.
Enjoy your extra daylight in the sky after work!