When will we “fall back” to DST 2024 and why does the time change twice a year?

The end of daylight saving time is just around the corner, which means clocks in most parts of the US will “fall back” one hour on Sunday, November 3, 2024. Here’s what you need to know about daylight saving time and why we’re changing our clocks twice a year.

When is summer time?

Daylight saving time, when we turned our clocks forward one hour, began on March 10 this year. Summer time ends on November 3, when the clock is turned back one hour.

The shift takes place at 2 local time.

So at 01.59.59 on November 3rd, your digital clocks, just like the one on your mobile phone, will not jump to 02.00 – they fall back to 01.00. You will need to reset your analog clocks and any clocks. which is not adjusted automatically.

This means that we get an hour – as opposed to spring change for summer time, when we lose an hour of sleep. This will mean that the sun sets an hour earlier in the evening and rises an hour earlier in the morning.

For example, the sun will set in New York City at 17:50 on November 2, but the following day, when summer time ends on November 3, the sun sets at 16.49

The Story of Daylight Saving Time

Time zones in the United States were established by the Standard Time Act of 1918, which also introduced daylight saving time, according to US Astronomical Application Department, part of the US Naval Observatory. The law was so controversial that daylight savings time was repealed in 1919, reinstated during World War II, and became a state and local decision.

But the Uniform Time Act of 1966 made it a federal law again, although the start and end dates have changed over the years. Since 2007, summer time in the US it starts on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November.

While the idea of ​​changing the clocks to rely more on sunlight is often attributed to Ben Franklin, The Franklin Institute disputes this, said that he was merely suggesting that people in Paris change their sleeping schedules so that they would save money on candles and lamp oil.

The institute credits New Zealand entomologist George Hudson, who introduced the idea in 1895 because he wanted more daylight in the evening.

The National Conference of State Legislatures, attributes the idea to the British builder William Willett. While Hudson wanted more daylight to hunt bugs, Willett, they say, wanted it so he could play more golf.

Which states do not observe daylight saving time?

Hawaii and most of Arizona do not change their clocks to daylight saving time and choose to remain on standard time only.

A majority of countries in Europe and North America observe daylight saving time, although not all follow exactly the same schedule. Many Southern Hemisphere countries do it too, but their timing is different because their summer occurs during our winter months.

Will the practice of changing the clocks to daylight saving time ever stop?

In 2022, the senate passed a bill called the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent. The bill was supported by 17 bipartisan co-sponsors, including Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, who has long argued that we should stop “falling back” in November and keep Daylight Savings Time year-round.

“This ritual of changing the time twice a year is stupid. Locking the clocks has overwhelming bipartisan and popular support. This Congress hopes we can finally get this done,” Rubio, a Republican, said in a statement.

Rep. Vern Buchanan, also a Florida Republican, introduced similar legislation in the House, saying there are “enormous health and economic benefits to making daylight saving time permanent.”

However, time ran out on the house bill in 2023 after it was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Subcommittee on Innovation, Data and Commerce.