Daylight saving time has New Hampshire residents divided. Some welcome the extra hour of sleep when the clocks fall back, while others dread the earlier sunsets and darker evenings.
Congress is debating whether to make daylight saving time permanent. The US House passed a bill in July, but it’s stalled in the Senate. Supporters want more daylight in the evenings and an end to changing the clocks twice a year. Opponents worry about children waiting for school buses in the dark on winter mornings.
With the latest time change behind us, we asked readers what they love (or hate) about changing the clocks.
This week’s question was: What’s the worst part of the time change for you? Or is there something you actually like about it?
Here’s what readers had to say…
Daylight saving time: Readers debate darker evenings
“I don’t like it getting dark so early. New England should change to Atlantic Standard Time and eliminate DST altogether.” — Tom Chew
“I would prefer to do away with daylight saving time and live with the natural rhythm of the seasons. I believe we are healthier when we live closer nature.” — JoAnn Carlson
“I dislike that the fall back time change means it gets dark an hour earlier in the afternoon, which makes it inconvenient for those of us who do not drive at night. But on the other hand, I think that is a small price to pay so that children don’t have to go to school in the dark in the morning. I feel their safety overrides my inconvenience. As far as the time change itself on two days a year, that doesn’t bother me at all, and it’s great to have an extra hour of sleep in the fall.” — Nancy Halloran
“I don’t like it getting dark so early.” — Wendi Tremblay
Some readers actually like the time change
Not everyone is opposed to changing the clocks. Some readers appreciate the brighter mornings in fall, while others say the seasonal shifts barely affect them.
“I would rather have it light in the morning so I like falling back. I have a harder time adjusting to springing forward but would not want to make daylight saving permanent in order to avoid that shift.” — Jane Duggan
“I personally like it. In the spring I like the quieter feel of the morning. In the fall, I prefer the light staying at the end of the day. They changed the rhythm of the time change a bit. I preferred the older version!” — Jackie LeBlanc
“I don’t react to the time change in any way. It is as if it never happened.” — Judy E
Daylight saving time and the struggle to adjust
For some readers, the biggest frustration is the disruption to their daily routines, sleep schedules, and their pets.
“It takes a couple of weeks to adjust and that is not fun for me or my animals. All in on permanent Eastern Standard Time. At least we’ve had an unusually mild fall. Only 46 days until the Winter Equinox!” — Tracy McCarthy
“For us the worst part is our two little dogs take about a week to adjust.” — Mike Tranchemontagne
Should daylight saving time become permanent?
The debate over daylight saving time goes beyond the inconvenience of changing clocks. Some readers question whether making daylight saving time permanent would actually solve anything.
“Daylight saving time has failed before in the 1970s and would be a bad idea to try again. 1. Daylight saving time has negative health effects 2. There are car accidents more often during daylight saving time. 3. We will have to drive to work in the dark or home in the dark.” — Lauren
Will daylight saving time become permanent?
The debate over daylight saving time reflects a familiar divide: Some people want more evening sunlight, while others prefer brighter winter mornings.
For now, most Americans will continue changing their clocks twice a year unless Congress changes federal law.
And as these responses show, there’s no shortage of opinions about what should happen next.
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