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pa_curious_mom t1_j9lwdt7 wrote

Reply to comment by SwissyVictory in Will PA move to permanent Daylight Savings Time this coming March on the 12th? by nuzkumak

It was really weird. Like all of a sudden, hey, we’re gonna do permanent daylight saving time in a year. Did they check with municipalities? Sleep experts? Businesses? Schools? Having it nearly always dark when kids are at bus stops and walking to school? Not smart. Having people commute in the dark? More accidents. I’d rather see permanent standard time myself…

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SwissyVictory t1_j9m226q wrote

I'm talking about how it passed, not the contents of the bill.

However there are arguments for both sides, even using your arguments above.

Playing devils advocate, the most extreme times have our most northern cities having sunrise at 7:30am vs 8:30am and sunset at 4:30am vs 5:30am.

Most people work 7-3 or 9-5 (and if they don't it's dark either way). Anyone working a 7-3 leaves too early and gets out too early for a change to matter. It's going to be dark regardless. However people working 9-5 are leaving while it's still a little light out with DLST, but driving home in the dark. Overall there's less dark commuting with DLST.

As for school children, they should be going to school an hour or two later regardless. Assuming a half hour commute, only 17% to 57% (likely much closer to 17%, but I don't have the full data) of schools would be beifited from standard time anyway.

Then there's the economic impacts. People are more likely to shop when the sun's out, so the later the sun is out the better for business.

Either way we really need to just pick one.

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Slight-West2591 t1_j9memu4 wrote

Even on standard time high school and middle school kids wait for the bus in the dark.

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pa_curious_mom t1_j9mg95k wrote

Yes, for a few months. But all kiddos—including kindergarteners—would be headed to school in dark if we went to daylight saving time.

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Slight-West2591 t1_j9mkrur wrote

The idea behind it goes far beyond kids going to school in the dark. There are many studies found that during the months of standard time, depression is much higher than during DST. Car accidents are also typically higher during standard time due to workers traveling in the dark to and from work.

I work 10 hour shifts so I go to work in the dark and come home in the dark, and I wouldn't say I get depressed but more so unmotivated to do anything. I am the type of person that would rather spend my free time outside playing with the kids or working in the garage and that extra hour of light in the evening makes a big difference.

However this is an argument of personal opinion with pros and cons from both sides. But there are adverse issues with changing time and it would be nice to not have to deal with that anymore.

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