U.S. proposal for longet daylight savings time is a good thing

Emile-J. Therien

Letter to the editor,
The U.S. government is likely to pass a bill to extend daylight saving time this summer. The change would mean Americans set their clocks back a month later, the last Sunday of November, and set them forward a month earlier, the first Sunday of March. If the U.S. makes this change, Canada would likely have to follow suit due to cross-border business and transport schedules.
An important U.S. study1 suggests that full year daylight saving time would reduce pedestrian fatalities by 13 per cent of all pedestrian fatalities in the 5:00-10.00 a.m. and in the 4:00-9:00 p.m. time periods. Motor vehicle occupant fatalities would be reduced by three per cent during the same time periods. American proponents of the time change say their country could save at least one per cent on its energy bills. They foresee other benefits such as a reduction in crime and traffic fatalities - in addition to extending the “feel” of summer.
The fact is, there are more pedestrian injuries and fatalities in the latter part of the afternoon and during the fall and early winter. A Transport Canada report on pedestrian fatalities and injuries2 shows the greatest number of fatalities occurred between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., while injuries peaked between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. The report suggests this time-related profile is due to the shortening of daylight hours during the last three months of the year.
From a safety perspective, an extra hour of daylight in the afternoon may be a good thing.
Sincerely,
Emile-J. Therien
President Canada Safety Council

1. Coate D, Markowitz S. The effects of daylight and daylight saving time on
US pedestrian fatalities and motor vehicle occupant fatalities. Accident
Analysis and Prevention, April 2004; 36(3): 351-357.

2. Pedestrian fatalities and injuries, 1992-2001.
www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/tp2436/rs200401/rs200401e.pdf