54% of Americans want to stick with Standard Time year-round and not change the clocks at all.
The country will switch to Daylight Saving Time this weekend, except for those in Arizona and Hawaii, and we can all expect to hear the old debate over whether we should get rid of Daylight Saving Time altogether. A new Gallup poll finds that 54% of Americans want to stick with Standard Time year-round and not change the clocks at all. 40% said they are in favor of Daylight Saving Time. Only 6% said they weren't sure. The truth is, there are some benefits to both:
With Daylight Saving Time:
- More daylight in the evening hours, especially summer.
- Energy savings.
- More daylight can reduce the number of traffic accidents.
With Standard Time year-round:
- Without changing the clocks, we can have more consistent sleep.
- It's believed that sticking with Standard Time could reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes and other health issues.
- More morning daylight helps people wake up and feel alert, thus making us more productive.