Say Goodbye To Daylight Saving Time, Caldwell: Set Clocks Back

CALDWELLS, NJ — Spring forward, fall back. It’s that time of year again in the Caldwells: the end of daylight saving time.

Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. (local time) on Sunday, Nov. 5. And if your clock needs adjustment in Caldwell, North Caldwell or West Caldwell, you’ll need to remember to set it back an hour.

The switch to standard time means we’ll have an hour less daylight at the end of the day and an hour more in the morning (you may get to catch a few extra winks on Sunday). Read More: Daylight Saving Time 2023 End Approaches (When To 'Fall Back')

Daylight saving time has been around since World War I. But it became the law of the land more than 50 years ago with the Uniform Time Act of 1966, though the exact dates — now the second Sunday in March and the first Sunday in November — have changed some over the years.

Proponents argue that longer evenings motivate people to get out of the house, and can contribute to a lower crime rate. The extra hour of daylight can be used for outdoor recreation such as golf, soccer, baseball, running and more. It also benefits the tourism industry, some say – although others have questioned that assumption.

Here are a few other things to know for this weekend’s changeover.

THE DIGITAL AGE

If you have a digital or internet-powered clock, there’s probably a good chance that you’re already set – it will update automatically.

According to their makers, both iPhones and Android phones will automatically change when local daylight saving time hits, although you may need to revisit your device’s settings if you’ve manually changed them. And no, you’re not the only one to get confused, Android says.

HARMFUL TO SAFETY, HEALTH?

Some critics say the drawbacks of daylight saving time outweigh the benefits, arguing that the time change can mess with our body clocks and circadian rhythms, making for some restless nights and sleepy days.

For many people, it’s little more than an inconvenience. But for others, it can trigger a condition known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), better known as seasonal depression. And the physical and mental effects can make getting through the winter months much more difficult, according to some health experts.

It’s difficult to quantify the economic cost of the collective tiredness caused by daylight saving time, but some studies have found a decrease in productivity after the spring transition.

Another gripe? The impact to traffic safety, experts say.

After the time change, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. becomes especially dangerous, according to a AAA Northeast analysis of the last 10 years of crash data (2012-21) available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Across the country, there was a 55 percent increase in fatal crashes in the 5 p.m. hour in the four weeks following “fall back” as compared to the four weeks prior, jumping from an average of 32 per week to 50 per week, AAA Northeast said.

For pedestrians, the danger is especially alarming. Nationwide, there was a 231 percent increase in fatal pedestrian crashes in the 5 p.m. hour in the four weeks after the time change as compared to the four weeks prior, AAA Northeast stated.

“When Daylight Saving Time ends, drivers may not be used to darkness when they head home from work – or their sleep schedules might not have fully adjusted,” said Robert Sinclair, senior manager of media relations for AAA Northeast.

“Since the evenings are darker, visibility and alertness are key – so drivers must be extra vigilant as we adjust to the time change,” Sinclair added.

THE CAMPAIGN TO END DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME

The House stopped the clock on ending daylight saving time last year, months after the Senate swiftly passed the Sunshine Protection Act, which would provide for year-round daylight saving time. The hangup in the House centered around whether America’s clocks should be set to standard time or daylight saving time.

Nineteen states are ready with legislation to stay on daylight saving time if Congress lets them, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. And at least 29 states have taken up 75 pieces of legislation related to daylight saving time in 2023.

A Monmouth University poll last year found about 6 in 10 Americans would do away with the nation’s twice-a-year time change, while about 1 in 3 want to keep the current practice. About 44 percent of those who want to stick with a single year-round time prefer daylight saving time, with later sunrise and sunset hours, while about 13 percent prefer standard time.

Also last year, a CBS News/YouGov poll found 46 percent of Americans supported having daylight saving time year-round, while 33 percent wanted to make standard time permanent. Just over a fifth of Americans, 21 percent, said the twice-a-year clock changes should continue.

This article contains reporting by Beth Dalbey, Patch staff

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