Perspective: Daylight Saving Time—An Advocacy for a Balanced View and against Fanning Fear

Abstract

As experts, scientists must inform the public and political actors about relevant topics by providing a well-balanced analysis and overview of existing as well as missing scientific evidence. Particularly in cases where evidence is not solid, they must remain objective and not fan fear. Maintaining good scientific practice can be challenging, especially when a debate is emotionally charged and simple answers for complex issues are demanded. Recently, this was the case with the debate about (perennial) standard time vs. daylight saving time. In this publication, we address the common misconceptions and pitfalls for good scientific practice that accompany this discussion and deduce suggestions for future directions, which may help resolve them. Beyond this, we argue that it is not wise to simply “explain away” the public opinion or preference and we therefore recommend strategies that could support a discourse aiming at getting the public “on board”. Finally, we suggest that, in societies where the light environment is becoming increasingly complex, it may be time to reconsider the prevailing current relationships between solar and social clocks.

A Data-Informed Perspective on Public Preferences for Retaining or Abolishing Biannual Clock Changes

“…It may be uncomfortable for the chronobiology community to consider that an attempt to improve population circadian health by advocating for the abolition of clock changes could result in a more harmful situation of permanent DST. To counter the permanent DST contingency, surely we need to “meet” the public at where they are at, so to effectively translate fundamental circadian science into public policy Blume and Schabus (2020) have noted the perils of attempting to “explain away” public preferences. However, given the paucity of data on what those preferences even are, and what factors shape them, there is a need for further work in various jurisdictions.…”

“…Given the importance of these questions for the translation of fundamental chronobiology into societal-level policy, the paucity of data on public perceptions of clock changes is striking. From the limited available data, a potential divergence between scientific consensus and public opinion has been noted ( Blume and Schabus, 2020 ). Public perceptions may be of particular importance in debates around clock changes, as changes would be enacted by politicians who may place more weight on public preferences than on the scientific advice.…”

Daylight saving time: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine position statement

“…32 Social jet lag associated with DST may be worse in the western-most areas within a given time zone, where sunset occurs at a later clock time. 33 Adopting permanent DST also would undo the benefits of delaying start times for middle schools and high schools. 34 During the 1973 OPEC oil embargo, minimal, if any, of the purported energy savings were actually observed in the U.S., and the policy was highly unpopular, 35 especially in rural areas of the U.S. After a single winter, the policy was reversed by an overwhelming congressional majority.…”