It leads to statistically significant increases in human death, injury, and financial loss due to stress caused by disruptions to circadian rhythm. The question you should be asking is “why do we still do it despite this, when there is literally no benefit?”
The benefit is more sun. Permanent normal time would give us sunrise at 5 am in summer while permanent offset time would give us sunrise at 9 am in winter. By changing the time twice a year we get 6 am and 8 am.
What’s so special about sunrise though? The sunset influences our lives greatly as well. I understand 8am is better than 9am for outdoor workers, because they can start working at the same time as other people.
That probably depends on where you live and what’s your job. For many people it’s impossible to get up after the sun rises anyway, if they want to be at work on time. I can imagine it could be locally advantageous though.
It leads to statistically significant increases in human death, injury, and financial loss due to stress caused by disruptions to circadian rhythm. The question you should be asking is “why do we still do it despite this, when there is literally no benefit?”
The benefit is more sun. Permanent normal time would give us sunrise at 5 am in summer while permanent offset time would give us sunrise at 9 am in winter. By changing the time twice a year we get 6 am and 8 am.
So, completely unnecessary death and injury directly attributable to the time change is worth that?
No, I’m also in favour of abolishing daylight saving time. But it’s not true that there are no upsides of the current system.
What’s so special about sunrise though? The sunset influences our lives greatly as well. I understand 8am is better than 9am for outdoor workers, because they can start working at the same time as other people.
Getting up when the sun rises feels much better than getting up in darkness
I don’t care as much about sunset, I’m still awake after sunset anyway
That probably depends on where you live and what’s your job. For many people it’s impossible to get up after the sun rises anyway, if they want to be at work on time. I can imagine it could be locally advantageous though.
I also much prefer the sun rising 1h after I got up than 2h after I got up. Or just seeing the first signs of dawn as Im driving to work