When is daylight saving time? We set our clocks ahead or ‘spring forward’ at 2 a.m. EST Sunday, March 10, 2024, and ‘fall back’ Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024.
Daylight saving time: When does it start?
Ready for more sun? Daylight saving time is right around the corner.
- What hour is lost during daylight savings? We lose an hour of sleep when the clocks “spring forward” and are turned ahead at 2 a.m. for one hour when daylight saving time begins.
- Did I gain or lose an hour? Fall is always when you “fall back” an hour, so that’s when you’ll gain an hour.
- Do we lose an hour of sleep in March? Yes.
Get ready for more sunshine during the day, Florida! Daylight saving time starts soon.
Daylight saving time for 2024 starts at 2 a.m. EST Sunday, March 10, for “spring forward” and ends at 2 a.m. EST Sunday, Nov. 3, for “fall back.” Each time, we’ll change our wall clocks. In the spring, we set our clocks ahead by one hour. In the fall, we set our clocks back by one hour — unless you live in a state or area that does not observe daylight saving time.
Below are things to know about the age-old practice, why we spring forward and fall back, the Sunshine Protection Act, and other facts about daylight saving time.
What is daylight saving time?
According to timeanddate.com, “daylight saving time is the practice of setting the clocks one hour ahead of standard time to make use of more sunlight in the spring, summer, and fall evenings. Daylight Saving Time (DST) is used to save energy and make better use of daylight. It was first used in 1908 in Thunder Bay, Canada.”
Daylight saving time became a national standard in 1966 when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Uniform Time Act, which was established as a way to continue to conserve energy. The thinking was, if it’s light out longer, that’s less time you’ll need to use lights in your home.
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Why do we change our clocks twice a year?
Those who support ending daylight saving time permanently advocate brighter afternoons and more economic activity. In Florida, ending daylight saving time could help tourism, legislators say.
What is the Sunshine Protection Act? Did the Sunshine Protection Act pass?
The Sunshine Protection Act would permanently extend daylight saving time from eight months of the year to the full 12 months. The bill was first introduced in March 2018 by Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida and Rep. Vern Buchanan. The pair reintroduced the bill, along with other sponsors, in 2019, 2021 and 2023.
The bill would make daylight saving time permanent across the U.S., but so far, the measure has not yet been passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, nor has it been signed into law by President Biden.
What does ‘spring forward, fall back’ mean?
According to dictionary.com, daylight saving, commonly referred to as daylight savings, “is begun in the spring by setting clocks one hour ahead. They are then set one hour back in the fall. … People often use the simple mnemonic spring forward, fall back to remember to set clocks forward one hour (e.g., from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m.) in the spring and backward one hour (e.g., from 2 a.m. to 1 a.m.) in the fall.”
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Which cities in Florida are not in the Eastern Time Zone?
Most of Florida is in the Eastern Time Zone, except for Pensacola, Panama City, Marianna, Chipley, Defuniak Springs, Valparaiso, Fort Walton Beach and Crestview.
Does daylight saving time affect Floridians in Central Time Zone?
Yes. Central Time can be a big frustration for Pensacolians and other Panhandle residents. In a work sense, it could be very difficult scheduling meetings if you’re on CT and a colleague is in the Eastern Time Zone. Try scheduling an outing with friends from Tallahassee when neither is quite sure when to leave the house in order to arrive on time!
Who’s in charge of daylight saving time?
The U.S. Department of Transportation oversees the nation’s time zones and the uniform observance of daylight saving time, according to transportation.gov. The oversight of time zones was assigned to the DOT to help keep track of transportation. The DOT manages daylight saving time and cites energy reduction and reduced crime as reasons for the time change.
Which states don’t observe daylight saving time?
Arizona and Hawaii do not recognize DST. There’s also no need to change the clocks in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Marianas.
Which countries observe daylight saving time?
Daylight saving time is used in more than 70 countries worldwide and affects more than a billion people each year. The beginning and end dates vary from one country to another.
What are the pros of daylight saving time?
If permanent daylight saving time takes effect, the biggest pro by far would be no sleep disruption. No need to change your clock twice a year before, at or after 2 a.m. on a Sunday in the fall and spring.
Other perks would be more time during the day to be out and about, and experts say it’s better for your health — no sleep disruption. No preparing-for-bed or waking-up habits to change.
What are common complaints about daylight saving time?
Likely the No. 1 complaint about daylight saving time is the disruption of sleep and habit.
Safety is another hot topic: Schoolchildren at bus stops became the issue, and after eight Florida school kids died in accidents, Florida Gov. Reuben Askew led an effort to curtail daylight saving time to eight months between late February and late October.
Contributing: Lisa Nellessen-Savage, Pensacola News Journal; Antonio Fins, Palm Beach Post
Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.
