Don't Forget to Change Clocks to End Daylight Saving Time in NY

Tis the season. The leaves are changing and so are the clocks in New York.

Daylight Saving Time (DST) is ending and most of us will have to move the clocks back one hour. Everyone outside of Hawaii and most of Arizona that is - the two states where time stays the same all year long and has since the 1960s.

Eliminating DST

Lawmakers have been trying to eliminate DST in New York and other states across the country for several years.

I have continued to communicate, collaborate and coordinate with my legislative colleagues in others states regarding this issue and am optimistic that we will ultimately be successful in our efforts to establish daylight saving time as the year-round time in New York and Northeastern United States,” said Senator Joe Griffo.

Pros & Cons

As with anything, there are both pros and cons to DST. Most of the support for springing forward has to do with the benefits of more daylight.

It reduces energy consumption
Beneficial for farmers to get more work done
Safety less driving in twilight or the dark

Those opposed to the time change, say there's no proof of any of it. However, some studies show quite the opposite.

Energy consumption remained similar with an increase in usage in the morning offsetting most of the savings in the evening.
Many farmers oppose the change, especially at Central New York dairy farms where the cows don't live by the clock. They expect to be fed and milked at the same time no matter what the clock says. It's even true for pets.
As for safety, we've all heard about the increase in traffic accidents and heart attacks from losing that hour of sleep. Government studies show there's an 8% increase in the first week of the change that is never made up during DST.

So, until any law is enacted, we'll still have to change the clocks. Whether it be the coffee maker, microwave, or even the hard-to-change one in the car, remember to turn your clocks back one hour at 2 AM on Sunday, November 6, 2022.