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This fact brief was originally published as an experiment to test the concepts behind fact briefs.

Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of useful information in fact briefs like this one, not all of them reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.

FACT BRIEF

Do some researchers find drawbacks to making daylight saving time year-round?

Saturday, March 13, 2021

By Emily Williams

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YES

Opponents of year-round daylight saving time argue that “springing forward” can disrupt the body’s internal clock. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine called last year for a reversion to year-round standard time to allow for lighter mornings and darker evenings, enhancing natural sleep patterns.

Another team of researchers last year said the annual spring time shift increases the risk of fatal traffic accidents by 6%. A 2014 study associated the shift with a temporary one-day 24% spike in heart attacks as bodies adjusted to different lighting and sleep patterns.

Proponents of permanent daylight saving time contend that the change would aid the agricultural industry and improve mental health and public safety. Sixteen Senators are supporting new legislation to allow states to make daylight saving time permanent.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

American Academy of Sleep Medicine: Call for the elimination of daylight saving time

Smithsonian Magazine Smithsonian: Sleep experts make the case against daylight saving time

Cell: Evaluation of the acute effects of daylight saving time on traffic accident risk

The BMJ: Daylight savings time and myocardial infarction

US Senate: Senator Marco Rubio—Bill to make daylight saving time permanent

CNN: Senators once again introduce a bill to make daylight saving time permanent

National Geographic: These places are trying to end daylight saving time

ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR

Gigafact

Between 2020 and 2022, under close editorial supervision, Gigafact contracted a group of freelance writers and editors to test the concepts for fact briefs and provide inputs to our software development process. We call this effort Gigafact Foundry. Over the course of these two years, Gigafact Foundry writers published over 1500 fact briefs in response to claims they found online. Their important work forms the basis of Gigafact formats and editorial guidelines, and is available to the public on Gigafact.org. Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of relevant information to be found, not all fact briefs produced by Gigafact Foundry reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date and need to be looked at with fresh eyes, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.

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About fact briefs published on Gigafact

Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.