Doctors want to end daylight saving time once and for all; understand why

A group of sleep doctors is once again calling on the DST (DST) be abolished, arguing that the practice harms personal and public health and safety.

According to the American Association of Sleep Medicine (AASM), the biological time change caused by daylight saving time increases risks to physical health, mental well-being and public security.

They say the ideal choice for health and safety would be to maintain standard time year-round.

Evidence that cannot be ignored

AASM has been calling for years for the United States to end daylight saving time and adopt standard time permanently, eliminating the need for annual clock adjustments.

In 2020, the group issued its first public call to abolish daylight saving time, citing evidence of increased risks of traffic accidents, cardiovascular events and mood disorders following the annual switch to daylight saving time.

Image: Shutterstock/reproduction

However, the debate over the fate of daylight saving time continues. A proposed law, called the “Sun Protection Law”, was unanimously approved in the Senate in 2022, aiming to make daylight saving time permanent, instead of maintaining standard time. This led to disagreements between medical experts and politicians.

AASM argues that the effort to maintain permanent daylight saving time ignores potential health risks that could be avoided by adopting standard time year-round.

The debate persists, and it is unclear which direction will be taken. Meanwhile, the population continues to face the challenges of the annual “setback”, which brings with it earlier darkness.

The issue of daylight saving time may not be top of mind, but it remains on the table as society grapples with the effects of changing clocks each year.

A health and safety are top concerns for sleep doctors, while politicians also consider energy and economic factors in decision-making.