I actually heard an argument against permanent DST that I still haven’t really been able to refute. The reasoning was that darker conditions in the mornings during winter could make things more hazardous for kids walking to school. In places with properly pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, it probably wouldn’t be an issue, but at least in more suburban areas, I can’t say I disagree. Changing back and forth twice a year is still silly, but I feel like I might prefer permanent standard time over permanent DST in a lot of places.
School hours could change. And if you’re far north enough, standard or daylight ain’t gonna matter, there will be times when kids are walking in the dark.
You know, I don’t really think that raising a concern about the possibility of kids getting hit by cars that I hadn’t heard discussed much before really falls into the same category as religious wingnuts scaremongering about “subversive” books or drag queens or whatever.
I didn’t even present it as some sort of urgent, insurmountable problem, I just didn’t have any rebuttal for it in the moment when I heard it. The other replies have brought up good points that could help make it work. Was that really warranted?
I can assure you kids are going to school in the dark when we’re on standard time. I was actually in grade school when the US stayed on DST year round for a hot minute in the 70s. It was no big deal
That’s caused (at least in part) by assigning timezones according to politics rather than longitude. Some places have gotten really skewed.
Anyway, most of us just want the government to pick one thing and stick with it. We don’t care whether they pick DST, ST, or create a new half-hour timezone to split the difference so long as the changing back and forth stops.
I actually heard an argument against permanent DST that I still haven’t really been able to refute. The reasoning was that darker conditions in the mornings during winter could make things more hazardous for kids walking to school. In places with properly pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, it probably wouldn’t be an issue, but at least in more suburban areas, I can’t say I disagree. Changing back and forth twice a year is still silly, but I feel like I might prefer permanent standard time over permanent DST in a lot of places.
You’re either walking to or from school in the dark in more northern places, it’s an irrelevant argument.
Shortest day of the year in my city is only 8 hours long.
Or going to work in the dark, and going home in the dark. Daylight? Never heard of it.
When I quit smoking I actually had to start taking my short break and just stand outside just to get some vitamin d from the sun.
Working in factories, condos or high rises during construction, forget it.
Schools can choose to start later in the day if they find it helpful, without needing everyone else to change their clocks and schedules too
School hours could change. And if you’re far north enough, standard or daylight ain’t gonna matter, there will be times when kids are walking in the dark.
You know, I don’t really think that raising a concern about the possibility of kids getting hit by cars that I hadn’t heard discussed much before really falls into the same category as religious wingnuts scaremongering about “subversive” books or drag queens or whatever.
I didn’t even present it as some sort of urgent, insurmountable problem, I just didn’t have any rebuttal for it in the moment when I heard it. The other replies have brought up good points that could help make it work. Was that really warranted?
BC winter is dark and gloomy in the morning and dark again by 3:30. So this won’t mean much for us, other than some actually usable daylight
I can assure you kids are going to school in the dark when we’re on standard time. I was actually in grade school when the US stayed on DST year round for a hot minute in the 70s. It was no big deal
That’s caused (at least in part) by assigning timezones according to politics rather than longitude. Some places have gotten really skewed.
Anyway, most of us just want the government to pick one thing and stick with it. We don’t care whether they pick DST, ST, or create a new half-hour timezone to split the difference so long as the changing back and forth stops.
The main reason it still exists is not a good one.
People are used to it happening and are scared of change.