While the recent change to standard time on October 26 at 2 AM may seem like a welcome opportunity for an extra hour of sleep, research indicates that this adjustment does not actually result in the full 60 minutes of additional rest. In reality, people might only gain about 33 minutes of sleep initially, and overall sleep quality tends to decline as winter progresses.
The transition to standard time is generally considered less disruptive than the shift forward in spring, which has been linked to an increase in car accidents and heart attacks. This is one of the reasons that organizations like the European Parliament have supported initiatives to eliminate daylight saving time. Similarly, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents has repeatedly advocated for the same change in the United Kingdom.
The roots of daylight saving time date back to the 18th century, with Benjamin Franklin being one of the first to propose such a concept in 1784. However, it was not until the early 20th century that the idea gained traction, thanks largely to the efforts of William Willett, a builder from Kent. Willett was inspired to promote this idea after observing that many people wasted daylight during the summer by sleeping in, as he noticed drawn curtains on sunny mornings while riding home on his horse. His campaign culminated in the self-publication of a pamphlet titled The Waste of Daylight.
Willett originally envisioned a more gradual adjustment to time, suggesting a total shift of 80 minutes throughout the seasons in four phases. His perseverance eventually led to parliamentary attention, particularly from MP Robert Pearce, who introduced the idea to the House of Commons. Although it did not gain immediate traction, several countries eventually adopted the practice. Notably, shortly after Willett”s passing in 1916, Germany became the first to implement daylight saving time, followed by the UK.
There have been various experiments with time changes since then. During World War II, the UK adopted what was known as British Double Summer Time, which set the clocks two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. This policy was reversed after the war concluded. In later years, specifically in 1968 and 1971, the British government explored the option of advancing the clocks without reverting to standard time. However, assessing the benefits and drawbacks of this approach proved complex, leading to the decision to discontinue the experiment after two years.
As discussions about the relevance and efficacy of daylight saving time continue, research and public sentiment suggest a growing preference for its elimination in favor of a more consistent timekeeping system.
