Tennesseans will once again “spring forward” on Sunday, March 13, 2022 at 2:00 a.m. This may seem a bit strange, given that Governor Bill Lee signed HB 0247 into law, which made daylight saving time (DST) standard throughout the year. However, that law was contingent on federal law standardizing DST nationally. Until that day comes, find out why changing Tennessee daylight saving time is so tricky (and how the current system actually increases your risk of injury and illness) with this blog from Lerner and Rowe’s Nashville personal injury lawyers.
Why Does Tennessee Still Have Daylight Saving Time?
The Uniform Time Act of 1966 trumps any state laws regarding daylight saving time. Enacted by Congress, the Uniform Time Act established rules for standardized time changes across the country and only allows for the observance of daylight saving time between the first Sunday of March and the first Sunday of November.
Interestingly enough, the only loophole to federally standardized daylight saving time is ending participation in the time change altogether. States like Arizona and Hawaii have already adopted permanent standard time—which means an extra hour of darkness all year long, but no falling back or springing forward, either. Tennessee, New Mexico, and 34 other states have introduced or passed bills calling for the adoption of permanent daylight saving time. Many argue that a constant standardized time would reduce accidents and injuries related to the time change.
How Does Tennessee Daylight Saving Time Cause Injuries?
Data suggests that the DST “adjustment window” (up to a week after the time changes) leads to temporary spikes in car accidents, workplace injuries, and even heart attacks. But how can just a one hour time difference be so powerful?
One study by the University of Colorado at Boulder found that fatal car accidents increase by as much as 6% during the week daylight saving time begins each March. One reason for this upswing may be the effect of more drowsy drivers on the road. Even just losing one hour of sleep can disrupt the body’s delicate circadian rhythm, leading to poorer concentration and impaired cognitive ability. Even mild impairment can easily cause a serious car wreck, making the adjustment period after Tennessee daylight saving time a dangerous time to be on the road.
Workplace accidents, too, are more common during this time, especially for those who use heavy machinery or work long shifts, which can compound the effects of sleep deprivation or fatigue.
Why Is Permanent Daylight Saving Time Better for Tennessee?
Proponents of permanent daylight saving time in Tennessee argue that it would eliminate the dangerous adjustment period during the first week of the time change while allowing everyone to reap the many benefits of an extra hour of sunlight all year long.
Fewer Accidents
Not only would drivers be less fatigued if daylight saving time were year-round, but Tennessee pedestrians and bicyclists would be more visible to motorists on the road thanks to the extra hour of sunlight in the evening.
Historical crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that nearly a quarter of all pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities occur between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. An additional hour each day of boosted visibility could decrease that number significantly.
Decreased Crime Rates
Many criminals enjoy the relative anonymity of darkness to prey upon their victims. An extra hour of sunlight in the evening would mean less time for people to commit crimes. It would also mean an extra hour of sunlight for people to safely walk to their cars or to their homes after work. One study published in The Review of Economics and Statistics noted that robberies drop by at least 7% during the months of daylight saving time.
Physical and Mental Health Benefits
In addition to reducing traffic fatalities and crime, permanent daylight saving time could improve the overall health of Americans, preventing the yearly spike in heart attacks and strokes around the Tennessee time change and increasing the amount of sunlight exposure, which may benefit those suffering from depression or seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
Injured in Tennessee?
At Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys, we know firsthand that Tennessee already has one of the highest rates of traffic accidents in the country. The adjustment period after daylight saving time begins only increases the risk of driving on Tennessee roads.
If you suffer an injury because of a drowsy or otherwise impaired driver’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact our Nashville attorneys today to find out how we can help. Call us 24/7 at 615-333-8888, chat with a LiveChat representative online, or submit your case details using our secure contact form.