Why year-round Daylight Saving Time could make school mornings deadly for kids

Why Year-Round Daylight Saving Could Make School Mornings Riskier

Activelifezero.com – Why year round Daylight Saving Time is under debate again as clocks move back one hour this Sunday. While permanent daylight saving could mean lighter evenings, research suggests it may also send far more children to school before sunrise, raising concerns about visibility and pedestrian safety.

Researchers at the University of Washington examined schedules at more than 16,000 schools across 14 states, representing about 8.6 million children. They compared permanent standard time, the current system of changing clocks twice a year, and permanent Daylight Saving Time.

Under year-round Daylight Saving Time, the study estimated that the 14 states would see roughly 356 million additional school commutes before sunrise each year compared with the current clock-change system. Projected nationally, that figure exceeded 2 billion additional dark-morning trips annually.

What the Fall Clock Change Means

At 2 a.m. Sunday, clocks will move back to 1 a.m. Sunrise and sunset will then occur one hour earlier according to the clock, bringing more daylight to the morning but making evening darkness arrive sooner.

“Fall back” means moving clocks back one hour.

In the United States, Daylight Saving Time begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. The fall transition can feel easier than the spring change because it adds an hour, but altered schedules may still disrupt sleep and routines, especially for young children.

Dark Commutes and Child Safety

The researchers also reviewed nationwide fatal motor vehicle crashes from 2015 through 2024. Their analysis included more than 10,000 fatal crashes occurring on school-year mornings between 7 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.

Crashes before sunrise had 77% higher odds of involving a pedestrian than crashes after sunrise. For children ages 5 through 18, the odds of pedestrian involvement were more than twice as high during dark morning conditions.

These findings do not mean every before-sunrise trip is dangerous. They do show why year round Daylight Saving Time could be an important safety consideration for children walking to bus stops, crossing streets, biking to school, or arriving near busy drop-off areas.

A permanent Daylight Saving Time policy would not necessarily change school start times. However, winter sunrise would occur an hour later than it would under permanent standard time, placing more normal school departures in darkness.

Permanent Daylight Saving Time or Permanent Standard Time?

Supporters of ending clock changes often point to the disruption caused by changing schedules twice each year. They also value later evening daylight for recreation, exercise, and after-school activities.

The Sunshine Protection Act, passed by the US House of Representatives in July, would make Daylight Saving Time permanent nationwide if enacted. That would bring later winter sunsets, but also later winter sunrises.

Permanent standard time offers another way to end seasonal clock changes. It would preserve winter clock settings throughout the year and, according to the school-commute analysis, avoid the large increase in pre-sunrise travel associated with permanent Daylight Saving Time.

Practical Steps for Families

Families can use the fall time change to check whether children are getting enough sleep and waking comfortably for school. Keeping bedtimes and morning routines consistent may help children adjust.

When children travel in low light, parents and caregivers can encourage bright or reflective clothing, review safe crossing habits, and make sure children know where to wait for buses in visible locations. Drivers should also expect pedestrians and cyclists during darker school-morning hours.

FAQ: Daylight Saving Time and School Mornings

When do clocks fall back in the United States?

Clocks move back one hour at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday in November, when Daylight Saving Time ends.

Would permanent Daylight Saving Time create darker winter mornings?

Yes. Compared with permanent standard time, winter sunrise would occur one hour later by the clock, potentially leaving more school commutes before sunrise.

How can parents improve visibility during dark commutes?

Reflective gear, bright clothing, safe walking routes, and careful street-crossing habits can help children be more visible in low-light conditions.