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Do We Need Daylight Saving Time?

March 1, 2021

YAWN! On March 14, you may lose an hour of sleep. That’s when daylight saving time (DST) begins. People in most of the U.S. will set clocks ahead one hour. DST will last until November 7.

DST was started in the U.S. in 1918 as a way to save energy. The sun sets later during DST, so people can use sunlight instead of electricity to light homes.

Some people say DST gives people more time to be outside. But others dislike DST. They say it makes people tired and can be a safety hazard.

Here’s what two of our readers think.

I think having an extra hour of sunlight in the evenings during DST is great. It gives people more time to run errands and do other activities more safely. For example, many kids—including me—like to play sports. They could get hurt if they play while it is dark outside.

Also, some people have trouble driving in the dark. An extra hour of sunlight can help them avoid getting into accidents.

I don’t think we need daylight saving time. One reason is that it can mess up your sleep. If you don’t get a good night’s sleep, you might feel groggy or unfocused, and that could cause you to fail a test.

Even worse, tired workers might have accidents on the job and could get hurt. Plus, people who live in states that don’t use DST seem to do just fine.