Hearings to examine turning back time, focusing on locking the clock.

1[Senate Hearing 119-141]2[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]34                                                        S. Hrg. 119-14156                      IF I COULD TURN BACK TIME:7                       SHOULD WE LOCK THE CLOCK?89=======================================================================1011                                HEARING1213                               BEFORE THE1415                         COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE,16                      SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION17                          UNITED STATES SENATE1819                    ONE HUNDRED NINETEENTH CONGRESS2021                             FIRST SESSION2223                               __________2425                             APRIL 10, 20252627                               __________2829    Printed for the use of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and30                             Transportation3132[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]3334                Available online: http://www.govinfo.gov3536                                __________3738                   U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE3961-335 PDF                  WASHINGTON : 20254041-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------4243       SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION4445                    ONE HUNDRED NINETEENTH CONGRESS4647                             FIRST SESSION4849                       TED CRUZ, Texas, Chairman50JOHN THUNE, South Dakota             MARIA CANTWELL, Washington,51ROGER WICKER, Mississippi                Ranking52DEB FISCHER, Nebraska                AMY KLOBUCHAR, Minnesota53JERRY MORAN, Kansas                  BRIAN SCHATZ, Hawaii54DAN SULLIVAN, Alaska                 EDWARD MARKEY, Massachusetts55MARSHA BLACKBURN, Tennessee          GARY PETERS, Michigan56TODD YOUNG, Indiana                  TAMMY BALDWIN, Wisconsin57TED BUDD, North Carolina             TAMMY DUCKWORTH, Illinois58ERIC SCHMITT, Missouri               JACKY ROSEN, Nevada59JOHN CURTIS, Utah                    BEN RAY LUJAN, New Mexico60BERNIE MORENO, Ohio                  JOHN HICKENLOOPER, Colorado61TIM SHEEHY, Montana                  JOHN FETTERMAN, Pennsylvania62SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO, West Virginia  ANDY KIM, New Jersey63CYNTHIA LUMMIS, Wyoming              LISA BLUNT ROCHESTER, Delaware6465                 Brad Grantz, Republican Staff Director66           Nicole Christus, Republican Deputy Staff Director67                     Liam McKenna, General Counsel68                   Lila Harper Helms, Staff Director69                 Melissa Porter, Deputy Staff Director70                     Jonathan Hale, General Counsel7172                            C O N T E N T S7374                              ----------75                                                                   Page76Hearing held on April 10, 2025...................................     177Statement of Senator Cruz........................................     178Statement of Senator Blunt Rochester.............................     279Statement of Senator Curtis......................................    3880Statement of Senator Lujan.......................................    4581Statement of Senator Young.......................................    4782Statement of Senator Markey......................................    508384                               Witnesses8586Hon. Rick Scott, U.S. Senator from Florida.......................     487Scott Yates, Founder, Lock the Clock Movement....................     588    Prepared statement...........................................     689Jay Karen, Chief Executive Officer, National Golf Course Owners90  Association....................................................     791    Prepared statement...........................................     992Dr. Karin Johnson, Practicing Physician and Professor of93  Neurology, UMass Chan School of Medicine Baystate--On Behalf of94  the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.........................    1695    Prepared statement...........................................    1896Dr. David Harkey, President, Insurance Institute for Highway97  Safety.........................................................    3498    Prepared statement...........................................    3599100                                Appendix101102Response to written questions submitted to Scott Yates by:103    Hon. Ted Cruz................................................    57104    Hon. Maria Cantwell..........................................    57105    Hon. Ben Ray Lujan...........................................    59106    Hon. Lisa Blunt Rochester....................................    59107Response to written question submitted to Jay Karen by:108    Hon. Maria Cantwell..........................................    60109Response to written questions submitted to Dr. Karin Johnson by:110    Hon. Ted Cruz................................................    60111    Hon. Maria Cantwell..........................................    61112Response to written questions submitted to Dr. David Harkey by:113    Hon. Maria Cantwell..........................................    63114    Hon. Lisa Blunt Rochester....................................    65115116                      IF I COULD TURN BACK TIME:117                       SHOULD WE LOCK THE CLOCK?118119                              ----------120121                        THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2025122123                                       U.S. Senate,124        Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,125                                                    Washington, DC.126    The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:01 a.m., in127room SR-253, Russell Senate Office Building, Hon. Ted Cruz,128Chairman of the Committee, presiding.129    Present: Senators Cruz [presiding], Scott, Young, Curtis,130Blunt Rochester, Lujan, and Markey.131132              OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. TED CRUZ,133                    U.S. SENATOR FROM TEXAS134135    The Chairman. Good morning, everyone. Welcome back, Senator136Scott, good to see you.137    The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and138Transportation will come to order.139    Twice a year we find ourselves adjusting our clocks,140shifting an hour of daylight forward in the spring, springing141it forward, and falling back in the fall.142    For many Americans this biannual ritual is a minor143inconvenience, something we endure without giving it much144thought, but when you take a closer look at the implications of145changing the clocks, its impact on our economy, our health, and146our everyday lives, we can see that this practice is more than147an annoyance.148    First, let us talk about energy savings, which has long149been the most common justification for Daylight Saving Time.150The original idea behind Daylight Saving Time was to reduce151energy consumption, by making better use of daylight during the152longer days of summer. The idea was simple, fewer hours of153darkness meant less electricity consumption for lighting and154heating.155    This concept might have made sense in the early 20th156century, when our economy and our homes relied much more157heavily on energy consumption tied to daylight hours.158    Today, the data show energy savings from Daylight Saving159Time are de minimis if not entirely nonexistent, advances in160technology, particularly in lighting and climate control, and161increased domestic energy production, have drastically reduced162the relative price of energy compared to the past, changing163clocks biannually impacts our health.164    Research has shown that the abrupt shift in time,165especially the spring transition, when we lose an hour of sleep166disrupts our internal circadian rhythms and cause us sleep167deprivation. This leads to increased risks of health problems,168including higher rates of heart attacks, strokes, and even car169accidents immediately following the time change.170    In fact, studies have shown that there is a spike in171workplace injuries and fatal car crashes during the days after172we shift our clocks forward. The disruption to sleep patterns173and the result in fatigue can have consequences on our174productivity, mental health, and well-being.175    The time change is also an inconvenience for families. For176parents, especially those with young children, adjusting to the177time change is no simple task, sleep disruptions can result in178cranky children, restless nights, and a difficult adjustment179period that can last for weeks.180    We also need to consider the economic and social impact.181There are arguments that longer daylight hours in the evening182can boost economic activity in certain sectors, such as retail,183tourism, and entertainment.184    For instance, late afternoon golf leagues account for up to18540 percent of the annual revenue of some courses, while a186majority of golf instructors reported that nearly 50 percent of187their lessons are taught after 4 p.m. A golf course would lose188an estimated $500,000 annually if it lost the extra hour of189daylight in the summer. Of course, the early birds who like 7190a.m. tee times might be a bit annoyed with this shift.191    Many states and countries, like Mexico, and Russia, and192Turkey, have already taken steps to move away from changing193clocks twice a year. Hawaii and Arizona have opted out of the194practice, and other countries in the past 10 years have either195abolished it or are in the process of doing so.196    Congress has the authority to end this outdated and harmful197practice. This hearing is an excellent opportunity to examine a198thoughtful and rational approach to how we manage time. Whether199we lock the clock on Standard Time year round or on Daylight200Savings Time, let us think carefully about our health, our201economy, and well-being, and embrace a sensible approach to202time management. And I will now turn to Senator Blunt Rochester203for her opening.204205            STATEMENT OF HON. LISA BLUNT ROCHESTER,206                   U.S. SENATOR FROM DELAWARE207208    Senator Blunt Rochester. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for209holding this important hearing. In our increasingly connected210world, it is more important than ever that we are thoughtful211about what it would mean to pick a permanent time for our212country. The Senate has tried this before, but the bill stalled213as this body took a harder look at how time changes work state214by state. What works in my home State of Delaware may not work215in Washington State, But I know I speak for many Americans when216I say it is time, it is time to figure this out.217    People across our country are tired of the constant cycle218of falling back and springing forward. I mean, who has not219forgotten to change their clock on their microwave, I think220mine is still on the wrong time, and felt the immediate panic221of waking up late for work? Or think about the parents of young222children and pet owners who have to adjust sleep and feeding223schedules twice a year.224    Some would say that these are just inconveniences. But the225back and forth between Daylight Savings Time and Standard Time226needs to change and needs to stop. We need to stop the clock.227We need to find a solution and stick with it.228    Many states across our Nation have started to consider229legislation to pick a permanent time. Some, like Delaware, have230pushed for keeping Daylight Saving Time, the time we are in231right now, permanently. Others have sought to keep the Standard232Time, when we fall back, permanently.233    But here is the thing: these twice-yearly time changes have234real impacts on real people. We know that changing the clock235disrupts sleep, which can lead to negative health outcomes.236Several studies have noted issues with mood disturbances,237increased hospital admissions, and even heart attacks and238strokes. We also know that being able to see the sun improves239mental and physical health as well. But more than that, time240changes can impact the safety of our communities. Darker241commuting times increase the risk of injuries and even death on242our way to school or work.243    My home state has one of the highest per capita rates of244pedestrian fatalities, and dark roads with tired drivers make245it more dangerous for pedestrians. The important thing is that246we land on something consistent and make smart investments to247keep people safe.248    For example, there were programs that we authorized in the249Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that focused on commonsense250safety improvements, but they are set to expire this Congress.251I hope the committee will keep this discussion in mind when it252comes time to reauthorize these infrastructure investments,253investments that could light, or that could light up dark254streets, add rumble strips to medians, turn chaotic255intersections into roundabouts, and more. These are the kinds256of smart policy choices we can make to protect people year-257round, regardless of whether it is Daylight Saving Time or258Standard Time.259    But the first step is getting us all on the same page. I am260looking forward to today's conversation about the competing261health, safety, and economic impacts of choosing a permanent262time for our communities and moving the ball forward on this263important issue.264    Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And I turn it back to you.265    The Chairman. Thank you, Senator Blunt Rochester. And I266have to say, I think you have set a land-speed record for267moving from the chair on the end all the way here. And I will268just say Senator Cantwell probably needs to watch her back. And269I am somewhat disappointed in your excellent remarks that we270did not get you belting out the chorus of Cher's ``If I Could271Turn Back Time.''272    Senator Blunt Rochester. I told you it is something that273peps us up. We need the energy.274    The Chairman. Joining us today is our friend Senator Rick275Scott from the Sunshine State to give remarks on his276legislation, the Sunshine Protection Act.277    Senator Scott, welcome back to the Commerce Committee.278279                 STATEMENT OF HON. RICK SCOTT,280                   U.S. SENATOR FROM FLORIDA281282    Senator Scott. First off, Senator Cruz, thank you for the283opportunity. And Senator Blunt Rochester, you have done a284better job keeping your seat in this committee also than I was285able to.286    Thanks for the introduction and the invitation to introduce287my bill, the Sunshine Protection Act, to finally lock the288clock. Senator Cruz, I know your morning, it has been a tough289week for you with the NCAA Championship. I do look forward to290the one----291    The Chairman. Your time has expired.292    [Laughter.]293    Senator Scott. All right. My bipartisan, Bicameral Sunshine294Protection Act that will end the twice-yearly time change and295make Daylight Savings Time the national year-round standard. I296have the support of 17 of my colleagues here in the Senate and297a House companion led by my friend Congressman Vern Buchanan298from the Great State of Florida.299    I am sure all of us have heard from our constituents on300this. The American people are sick and tired of changing their301clocks twice a year. It is confusing, unnecessary, and302completely outdated. It is an understatement to say that our303Nation has changed since the United States began changing the304clock over a century ago. For example, American households have305electricity now. We also have self-driving cars, computers, and306cell phones.307    Now, changing the clocks twice a year proves more of an308annoyance to families than a benefit to them. In 2018, when I309was Governor of Florida, I signed legislation that would allow310the state to opt out of the practice of changing the time, and311nearly two dozen other states have done the same, pending312Federal approval that will come by passing the Sunshine313Protection Act.314    The American people love having an extra hour of sunlight,315especially in my State of Florida, where that means more time316you can enjoy outdoors and activities with families. Studies317also show the potential for reduced cardiac issues, stroke, and318seasonal depression, reduced robberies, and benefits to the319agricultural and overall economy with an extra hour of320sunlight. This is a common-sense change to simplify and benefit321the lives of Americans, and we have a great opportunity to322finally get this done with President Trump on board to lock the323clock.324    I want to thank the Committee for the consideration of the325Sunshine Protection Act. I am optimistic we can get this326passed, signed into law, and finally lock the clock.327    Thank you.328    The Chairman. Thank you, Senator Scott. You are welcome to329stay if you like, but I know you have a busy schedule, so if330you need to attend other responsibilities, you certainly can do331so. And the game was great, except for the final minutes. I332would have liked to lock the clock with 1 minute remaining.333    [Laughter.]334    The Chairman. That would have been an excellent idea.335    Our first witness this morning is Scott Yates, the Founder336of the Lock the Clock Movement. Mr. Yates started the movement337to remove the biannual chore of changing the clock.338    Our second witness is Jay Karen. He is the CEO of the339National Golf Course Owners Association, where he represents340thousands of golf course owners across the country.341    Our third witness today is Dr. Karen Johnson, a practicing342sleep medicine physician and professor of neurology at the343University of Massachusetts, Chan School of Medicine, Baystate,344she is here on behalf of the American Academy of Sleep345Medicine.346    Our final witness is Dr. David Harkey. Dr. Harkey is the347President of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which348is an organization dedicated to reducing deaths, injuries, and349property damage from motor vehicle crashes.350    Mr. Yates, you may give your opening statement.351352              STATEMENT OF SCOTT YATES, FOUNDER,353                    LOCK THE CLOCK MOVEMENT354355    Mr. Yates. Thank you so much, Chairman Cruz, Ranking Member356Blunt Rochester, and members of the United States Commerce357Committee. Thank you for inviting me--thank you for inviting me358here today.359    Allow me to start with a hypothetical. Imagine two people360commit the exact same crime on the exact same day, and they are361the same in every way. But today, one of them is out of prison,362and one of them remains behind bars.363    What is the difference? The second man was sentenced on the364Monday after we spring forward into Daylight Saving Time.365Researchers at the University of Washington reviewed every366criminal sentence handed down in America over an 11-year367period, and found the single harshest day of sentencing of the368whole year was that Monday in March, when judges, like all of369us, had been jolted awake an hour earlier than their bodies had370been expecting.371    That one seemingly harmless Government mandate, dialing our372clocks back one hour means some people received harsher373sentences than they otherwise would.374    The harm does not stop there. Both of your opening375statements alluded to all of the problems that we have, and376peer-reviewed studies consistently show that heart attacks go377up, strokes, car crashes, even miscarriages spike in those days378following the spring switch.379    A study from the University of Vienna found deaths,380overall, just increase by 3 percent in those couple of days381after the change. Medical errors go up, diabetics lose glucose382control, crime goes up. Just yesterday, the Journal of383Neurology published a report saying that more people get384migraines in the days after the time change.385    And why do we do this; for the farmers? No. The story about386the farmers was always just a myth that was created as a PR387stunt by a retailer in Boston who wanted more daylight for388shoppers to have more time to shop. We thought it would sound389better if we said it was for the farmers.390    If changing the time twice a year is so deadly and such an391outdated relic, why have not we fixed it yet? It is probably392because of this issue we face about whether we should lock into393permanent daylight or permanent Standard Time. I have seen394countless polls, and I have talked to thousands of people about395this. Most people do not actually prefer one or the other that396much. They just want to stop the switching. There are valid397arguments for either permanent choice.398    So what should Congress do? What should this committee do?399My name is Scott Yates. I have been reading, writing, and400testifying about this for nearly a decade, and I have this401recommendation: Lock the clock, as this bill says, but after a4022-year implementation. If we wait until 2027, we will continue403to allow states to opt out and opt into Standard Time, just as404Hawaii and most of Arizona have done.405    This is fundamentally a states-rights issue and a geography406issue. Consider Indiana, Indiana, Indianapolis is roughly the407same latitude as New York City, but about 700 miles west. For408Congress to force Hoosiers to walk, to go to work and school in409the dark only to accommodate barbecues in New York City seems410rude. But as the Commerce Committee, you do have an interest in411promoting a stable and predictable environment for commerce.412    That is why I suggest, Congress establish a firm date,4132027, to permanently end the clock changing nationwide. States414would then have ample time to decide if they want to remain in415Daylight Saving Time or opt out and pick Standard Time. They416would not have the option to continue the deadly twice-yearly417switching.418    With clear Federal guidance, schools can evaluate and pick419their own bell times. Businesses can plan confidently, free420from the confusion caused by time changes. And states would421even have time to hold elections to let the people decide422directly.423    I started my remarks with that study about the judges, the424reason researchers could that, and find so many other ways that425the time change is harmful is DSC creates what scientists call426a natural experiment. Scientists can compare real-world results427about what happens when the time changes.428    Interestingly, in traditional experiments with lab rats,429scientists are careful not to change the clocks for Daylight430Saving Time for the rats because it is too disruptive.431    So my closing question for you today is this: At long last,432can we treat our citizens with the decency that we treat our433lab rats?434    Thank you. And I am open to any questions.435    [The prepared statement of Mr. Yates follows:]436437    Prepared Statement of Scott Yates, Founder, www.LockTheClock.net438    Chairman Cruz, Ranking Member Cantwell, and members of the U.S.439Senate Commerce Committee, Thank you for inviting me here today.440    Allow me to start with a hypothetical. Imagine two identical people441commit the exact same crime on the exact same day. They are the same in442every way, but today one of them is out of prison rebuilding his life,443while the other remains behind bars, draining state resources.444    What is the difference?445    The second man was sentenced the Monday after we ``spring forward''446into Daylight Saving Time. Researchers at the University of Washington447reviewed every criminal sentence handed down in America over an 11-year448period and found the single harshest day of sentencing was that Monday449in March, when judges, like all450    of us, had been jolted awake an hour earlier than their bodies451expected. That one seemingly harmless act--dialing back our clocks one452hour--means some people receive harsher sentences than they otherwise453would.454    The harm doesn't stop there.455    Peer-reviewed studies consistently show that heart attacks,456strokes, car crashes, and even miscarriages spike in the days following457the spring switch. One study from the University of Vienna found that458overall deaths increased by 3 percent following this annual clock459change. Studies show other problems: Medical errors spike. Diabetics460lose glucose control. Crime goes up. People are less empathetic and461helpful.462    And why do we do this? For farmers?463    No. The story about farmers was always just a myth, created as a PR464stunt by a retailer in Boston who wanted shoppers to have more daylight465after work. He thought it would sound better to say it was for farmers.466    If changing the time twice a year is a deadly, outdated relic, why467haven't we fixed it yet? I suspect it's because we're all too468groggy after the time change to decide. But the real issue is simpler:469we can't agree whether to adopt permanent Standard Time or permanent470Daylight Time.471    I've seen countless polls and talked with thousands of people--most472don't strongly prefer one time over the other; they just hate the473switching. There are valid arguments for either permanent choice.474    So, what should Congress do?475    My name is Scott Yates and I've been reading and writing about this476as a hobby for nearly a decade, and I have this recommendation: Lock477the clock into permanent DST in two years, in 2027, while continuing to478allow each state to opt out and remain in Standard Time if it decides479to do so, as Hawaii and Arizona have already decided.480    This is fundamentally a states' rights issue.481    Consider Indiana. Indianapolis is roughly the same latitude as New482York City but about 700 miles west. For Congress to force Hoosiers to483commute and send children to school in winter darkness, only to484accommodate barbecues in New York, feels . . . rude.485    But as the Commerce Committee, you do have an interest in promoting486a stable and predictable environment for commerce.487    That's why I suggest Congress establish a firm date--2027--to488permanently end clock-changing nationwide. States would then have ample489time to decide if they want to do nothing and remain in Daylight Time490or opt out and pick Standard Time. They wouldn't have the option to491continue the deadly twice-yearly switching.492    With clear Federal guidance, schools can evaluate optimal start493times and businesses can plan confidently, free from the confusion494caused by time changes. States would even have time to hold elections495to let the people decide directly.496    I started my remarks with that study about judges. The reason497researchers could do that--and find in so many other ways that the498time change is harmful--is that DST creates what scientists call a499``natural experiment.'' Scientists can compare real world results about500what happens with the time changes.501    Interestingly, in traditional experiments with lab rats, scientists502are careful not to change the clocks for DST. It's too disruptive.503    So my closing question for you today is this: At long last, can we504put aside partisanship and take action to treat our citizens at least505as well as we treat our lab rats?506    Thank you, and I look forward to any and all questions.507    For a full briefing book, a state-by-state analysis, and a summary508of the voluminous research into this topic, please see509www.LockTheClock.net.510511    The Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Yates, for a very interesting512testimony.513    Mr. Karen.514515STATEMENT OF JAY KAREN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, NATIONAL GOLF516                   COURSE OWNERS ASSOCIATION517518    Mr. Karen. Good morning, everyone. Thank you, Chairman519Cruz, Senator Blunt Rochester, and members of the Committee,520for asking me to enter testimony on behalf of the members of521the National Golf Course Owners Association on a pretty complex522issue.523    We are headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, and524represent approximately 4,000 public courses, private clubs,525municipal courses, and resorts throughout the United States. A526little bit about the golf economy, many elected friends see527golf simply as a game until it is time to talk about taxes,528land use, water, employment matters, tourism, zoning, et529cetera.530    What comes into view is a $102 billion industry employing531nearly two million people across 15,000 properties and two532million acres of land so that nearly 30 million Americans can533enjoy a great walk outdoors with strangers, friends, and family534while hitting a little white ball.535    Little known fact: 75 percent of golf courses in America536are open to the public, and nearly $5 billion each year is537raised for charitable causes through golf. I also understand538golf outings can be an effective fundraiser for political539campaigns. The health benefits of golf are well documented, so540we tend to vehemently disagree with Mark Twain's assessment of541golf as ``a good walk spoiled''.542    Now, about the clock, locking the clock does not change how543much daylight we have, just where it shows up on the clock. For544golf and many outdoor activities, a shift can have significant545economic and wellness implications. Golf thrives on what we546call recreational daylight, the overlap of sunlight and547people's availability to be outdoors.548    Americans overwhelmingly prefer evening recreation over549early morning. This is not just about golf, it is about soccer,550jogging, walking, biking, tennis, and so much more. Making551Standard Time permanent would shift 1 hour per day from552recreational to non-recreational daylight. Simplistically, it553trades 8 p.m. for 8 a.m. At golf courses, later hours generate554about 40 percent more revenue per hour than early mornings.555    Trading backward would cost the average public golf course556at least 7 to 8 percent of their annual revenue by removing the557best inventory we have on our shelves, which is approximately55837 million rounds of golf, and would cost the industry at least559$1.6 billion or nearly $200,000 per course. This analysis only560includes green fee revenue, and does not include spending on561golf car rentals, merchandise, food and beverage, golf lessons,562and other areas of the business.563    Thus, only 7 percent of our members support making Standard564Time permanent. Those who favor Standard Time year-round say565their morning play is more valuable to them than their566afternoon play. These may be resorts that want players off the567course and in the restaurants at a reasonable hour.568    Now, making Daylight Saving Time permanent would provide569additional recreational daylight from November to March and570would add an estimated 23 million rounds to the current golf571inventory. This would give the industry a tailwind of about $1572billion, or roughly $250,000 per affected facility. Sixty-four573percent of our members support making Daylight Saving Time574permanent. The status quo, changing of our clocks twice per575year, avoids both the significant downside while forfeiting the576moderate upside.577    Twenty-seven percent of golf course owners and operators578support keeping the status quo of changing the clocks. Many579golf courses slow down in the winter and enjoy having some580relief later in the day for their employees with the sun581setting earlier. Or they may have a healthy clientele of older582players who would prefer no disruption to their 7 a.m. tee time583or their eleven o'clock bridge game. Keep in mind all these584figures do not include thousands of private clubs, which would585augment the impacts in both directions by an enormous sum.586    In conclusion, the Senate is facing a classic Gordian knot.587There will be winners and losers no matter which way the knot588is cut. But our members clearly prefer Daylight Saving Time and589strongly oppose permanent Standard Time.590    We recognize the sleep-related arguments for Standard Time,591but the benefits of extended daylight for physical and mental592health, outdoor recreation, and public safety are significant.593Obesity, depression, and crime all have ties to reduced594daylight and sedentary lifestyles.595    So in short, we urge the Senate to avoid the consequences596of permanent Standard Time. We encourage solutions that597preserve evening daylight for golf, for health, for recreation,598and local economies.599    Thank you.600    [The prepared statement of Mr. Karen follows:]601602       Prepared Statement of Jay Karen, Chief Executive Officer,603                National Golf Course Owners Association604    Thank you, Chairman Cruz, Ranking Member Cantwell and members of605the Committee for allowing me to enter testimony on behalf of the606members of the National Golf Course Owners Association. I sincerely607appreciate the time you are setting aside for a discussion about a608complex and consequential matter.609    My name is Jay Karen, Chief Executive Officer of the National Golf610Course Owners Association. NGCOA, headquartered in Charleston, South611Carolina, represents over 4,000 small businesses throughout America and612serves as a vital resource for owners, operators, and general managers613of various types of golf facilities, including privately-owned public614courses, private clubs, municipal courses and resorts. The NGCOA615provides business-critical information, education, networking616opportunities, and advocacy to help our members and the greater617industry operate their golf facilities efficiently and sustainably.618Golf as Part of the U.S. Culture, Land and Economy619    While golf is often seen as a game enjoyed by a small, yet620passionate group of people, golf has long been entrenched in the fabric621of American society as one of the Nation's leading participation622sports. In addition to our rich history, both at the professional and623recreational levels, golf is a dynamic, growing and evolving industry624that's impacting the broader United States economy in a wide variety of625ways.626    A few tidbits about the golf industry:627628   28.1 million Americans played golf in 2024 on over 15,000629        golf courses in the United States, laid out across 2 million630        acres of cared-for land (about the size of Delaware and Rhode631        Island combined), of which nearly 80 percent of golf courses632        are public access. Golf's goodness was showcased during the633        most difficult COVID years, as millions of people flocked to634        the Nation's courses for the very first time for much-needed635        outdoor recreation.636637   Golf is an activity and business with a large economic638        footprint that spurs millions to travel, make purchases, and639        build and buy houses connected to golf. The business of golf640        drove $101.7 billion in economic activity throughout the U.S.641        in 2022, an increase of 20 percent over 2016. Golf tourism642        overall is the second-biggest economic driver in the industry,643        with golfers generating over $31 billion in travel-related golf644        expenditures within the U.S. Today, golf has an extended645        economic impact of over $226 billion, providing 1.65 million646        Americans with quality employment opportunities.647648   Golf leads all other sporting industries in charitable649        giving, raising close to $5 billion through nearly 150,000650        charitable golf events at more than 80 percent of all golf651        courses. Golf also tends to be an effective fundraiser for652        political campaigns!653654   Golf provides valuable green space, as trees and turfgrass655        at courses improve air quality by producing oxygen and trapping656        pollutants, thus preventing them from reaching groundwater657        supplies. U.S. golf courses, which also serve as sanctuaries658        for a wide variety of plants and animals, continue to exhibit659        dramatic input reductions, savings, and technological660        advancements when it comes to environmental sustainability.661        Perhaps most notable is the industry's management of its most662        precious resource--water--with usage at golf courses dropping663        29 percent since 2005.664665   Golf delivers value in ways beyond jobs, revenue, taxes, and666        multiplier effects. Golf is a lifestyle, a community asset, and667        a positive contributor to physical, mental and social wellness.668        Playing golf offers significant health benefits by promoting669        physical activity, mental wellness, and social connection. A670        typical 18-hole round involves walking 4-6 miles and burning up671        to 2,000 calories. Studies show golfers have a 40 percent lower672        mortality rate than non-golfers of the same age. The sport also673        supports mental health, particularly for adults aged 35-49, who674        report using golf as a way to reduce stress and recharge. In675        2022, 97 percent of U.S. golf facilities hosted programs to676        expand recreational access, underscoring golf's role as a677        community wellness asset. Golf combines exercise, nature, and678        friendship into a sustainable lifelong activity.679Day in the Life of a Golf Course Operator--Sun-Up to Sun-Down680    A golf course operator's day starts before dawn, coordinating with681maintenance crews and reviewing the tee sheet and weather. As players682arrive, they oversee operations, monitor pace of play, and handle early683food and beverage service. Midday brings office tasks, course checks,684and managing staff or guests. Afternoons shift toward twilight play,685lunch traffic, and planning upcoming events or communications. Evenings686focus on closing duties, cart returns, and prepping for the next day.687It's a fast-paced blend of hospitality, logistics, and fieldwork,688balancing customer experience, team management, and revenue across689changing daylight, weather, and play patterns. No two days are ever the690same.691    Sunrise and sunset directly shape a golf course operator's daily692play window, staffing needs, and revenue potential. Tee times are693scheduled based on available daylight, with early starts shortly after694sunrise and final rounds finishing at sunset. Some courses, like Pebble695Beach Golf Links, even have lights in the trees on the finishing green696to accommodate golfers trying to squeeze in every last bit of play.697Seasonal shifts in daylight affect how many rounds can be played,698staffing schedules, and the timing of events or maintenance. Operators699use this information to plan twilight pricing, ensure safety, and700optimize food, beverage, and cart operations. In short, daylight hours701are the framework for nearly every operational and financial decision702on the course, impacting both the guest experience and the bottom line.703    Seasonal changes in sunrise, sunset, and weather, especially frost,704significantly impact how golf operators plan each day. In winter, even705if sunrise is technically around 7:30 AM, play may be delayed until7069:00 or later due to frost, which can damage turf if disturbed. This707reduces the number of playable hours and limits tee time availability.708As a result, operators often start later, compress the tee sheet, and709reduce staffing. In contrast, summer offers long days with early710sunrises and late sunsets, allowing more tee times, twilight play, and711higher revenue potential. Maintenance also adjusts seasonally--crews712may need to shift schedules to prepare the course before first light in713summer, while winter prep happens in a tighter window. Event planning,714F&B hours, and dynamic pricing models must all be adapted to the715season's light and weather. In short, seasonal daylight and frost risk716are critical variables in maximizing playability, revenue, and turf717health.718Recreational Daylight--The Industry's Lifeblood719    We know that ``locking the clock'' doesn't increase or decrease the720number of daylight hours for any service provider in any geographies721around the US; it simply changes where that daylight occurs on our722clocks. Why does this matter to golf? Golf relies on what we call723``Recreational Daylight,'' which are the hours of the day that line up724with the sun's light and people's general availability to be outside to725enjoy recreational activity. Historically people are inclined to pursue726recreation and outdoor activities at a higher rate for ``after-dinner''727than ``before-breakfast'' daylight. Proposed changes to ``locking the728clock'' would have the following effect for golf:729730   Making Standard Time permanent would shift one hour per day731        for every course in the country (in their respective season732        lengths) from recreational to non-recreational daylight (i.e.,733        trades 8PM for 8AM).734735   Making Daylight Saving Time permanent would provide736        additional recreational daylight hours for dates in November to737        March. Two distinctions: Northern facilities wouldn't benefit738        as much, because these are non-season months due to temps/snow,739        etc, and these months are also peak season for the snowbird740        locations such as FL and AZ741742    Latitude matters in golf relative to how daylight length varies743during the year. Perhaps the best way to explain this is to look at the744daylight length at June summer solstice in northern latitudes vs. a745south U.S. benchmark:746747   Miami, FL (benchmark)--13 hrs 45 mins of daylight748749   Minneapolis, MN--15 hrs 37 mins of daylight (almost 2 hours750        more!)751752   Seattle, WA--15 hrs 59 mins (+ 2 hrs)753754   Sioux Falls, SD--15 hrs 36 mins (+ 2 hrs)755756   East Lansing, MI--15 hrs 21 mins (+1.5 hrs)757758   Buffalo, NY--15 hrs 21 mins (+1.5 hrs)759760   Boston, MA--15 hrs 17 mins (+1.5 hrs)761762    In a formula that adjusts for weather, this means that a course in763Minneapolis has room for 50+ more golfers per day than Miami on the764same date. The Minneapolis course will continue to have more daily765capacity than a course in Miami through the autumnal equinox in766September. This relationship plays out across the northern U.S.767768   Northern courses benefit from the annual daylight769        distribution naturally.770771   This is also a factor fueling why golf participation is772        significantly higher in northern vs. southern states.773774    Golf courses in general generate higher revenue in later-day vs.775early-morning hours. Based on analyzing a range of courses and their776Point of Sale (PoS) data for revenue by hour, the distribution below777illustrates revenue as an average representation:778779    Afternoon and evening daylight revenue is approximately 40 percent780higher than before-lunch hours for the average golf facility. Hence,781trading-backwards (eliminating DST) is going to cost the average782operator about 7-8 percent of their annual revenue.783    Here is a look at the impact--either direction--on approximately7848,000 public, regulation-length golf courses in the United States. This785economic picture only includes the gain or loss in green fee revenue,786and does not include the impact on spending on golf cart rental,787merchandise, food and beverage, golf lessons and other areas of the788business. Keep in mind this does not include thousands of private789clubs, which would augment the impacts in both directions.790791   Making Standard Time Permanent would cost all states golf792        revenue to the tune of $1.6B or 7.5 percent of their total793        annual green fee income, or approximately $162,000 per course.794795   Making Daylight Saving Time permanent gives the industry796        about half that increment of a tailwind of $1B or 4.6 percent797        of green fee income, or approximately $250,000 per facility.798799   Leaving the clock changing as-is obviously avoids both the800        significant downside while forfeiting the moderate upside.801Daylight Saving Time--Industry Sentiment802    83 percent of NGCOA course owners and operators surveyed feel a803permanent change to Daylight Saving Time would benefit the overall804success and viability of their businesses, though a lesser 64 percent805support making Daylight Saving Time permanent. Our assumption is that806the gap represents those who don't believe the change and related807disruptions to business and lives are worth it.808809    To illustrate additional complexities of this, golf course810superintendents employed at golf courses report only 40 percent of811their surveyed members feel a move to permanent DST would benefit the812success and viability of their work, with 33 percent being unsure and81327 percent saying it would not be helpful.814    Below are direct comments on Daylight Saving Time from industry815practitioners:816817        As an owner-operator of the largest private country club in818        Indiana, staying on Daylight Saving Time is the best for all819        outdoor activities. Whether it's pickleball, golf, outdoor820        dining, boating, walking, etc., people use more time in the821        evening than in the morning. When I moved to Indiana 12 years822        ago, one of my favorite intangibles was the amount of daylight823        in the evenings. You can play golf in Indiana until 9:30.824        That's amazing and it means that members are playing 18 holes825        well past the traditional end of the workday.826827        Even though we are in the far western portion of the Eastern828        time zone, I still wish I had even more daylight in the829        evenings and I dread when we go back to Standard Time in830        November. It's the end of February, and we can be outside until831        6:30. I wish we were on Daylight Savings time today and I could832        be outside until 7:30 on this 60-degree, February day.833834        As a golf teacher, I am able to teach the public after they are835        done with their workday, therefore extending my ability to836        generate revenue. However, due to maintenance, I am unable to837        teach in the mornings.838839        We are in the Central Time Zone but within 10 miles of Eastern840        Time. In the winters, it gets dark here at 4:00 pm. If you have841        a long frost delay, it can really limit the number of tee times842        that could finish 18 holes before dark.843844        At our daily fee municipal golf course, we feel as if going to845        permanent Daylight Saving would be more beneficial in the long846        run to our revenue stream based on the amount of play after847        people get off of work. The maintenance crew's working time848        would be the same (they start working 1 hour before sunrise).849        Standard time would take golfers away after work and we do not850        see many people showing up way early to get their round in.851852        Permanent Daylight Saving Time is a big positive for golf and853        other recreation activities including youth and adult baseball,854        soccer, football, tennis, pickleball, etc. More outdoor855        recreation activities occur in the evening. More evening light856        increases participation and revenue while also decreasing857        lighting expenses at outdoor fields.858859        Evening golf generates more after work activity including860        serving dinner. We would align our morning shifts with new861        sunrise times. Early morning players might be put off by862        starting later, but they will adjust. These are generally the863        lowest revenue players. I am all in on Permanent Daylight864        Saving Time.865866        Having an extra hour of daylight for the evening hours provides867        us with more revenue opportunities than opening the tee sheet868        earlier. We have many more golfers who prefer to play 9-holes869        after work than those who would come at say 5:00-5:30 am.870Standard Time--Industry Sentiment871    9 percent of NGCOA members feel a permanent change to Standard Time872would benefit the overall success and viability of their businesses,873and 7 percent support making Standard Time permanent. While some course874owners feel Standard Time would support the morning-heavy businesses875they run, most respondents feel a move to permanent Standard Time would876negatively impact their ability to generate revenue, to maintain877optimal conditions on the course, to have reasonable working hours for878their employees and their ability to provide safety and security at879their businesses.880[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]881882    To illustrate additional complexities of this, golf course883superintendents report only 19 percent of their surveyed members feel a884move to permanent Standard Time would benefit the success and viability885of their businesses, with 35 percent being unsure and 46 percent saying886it would not be helpful.887    Comments on Standard Time from industry practitioners:888889        We are in a resort vacation area and our busiest times are890        mornings. Most visitors have evening dinner or other plans.891        Morning help is also easier to find than evening help.892893        I am unsure how changing to DST would affect our business, as894        we don't play golf in the winter. However, moving to ST would895        significantly negatively impact our business. We have a896        significant amount of late afternoon play. No-one will want to897        play at 4 am, but a number of people play at 6 pm and wouldn't898        finish before dark if ST was implemented.899900        We are providing golf during DST under the current system. So901        in MN it would offer no change to the golf season. However,902        Standard Time would be terrible for MN golfers. It already is903        light so early in the summer here (with DST) that taking away904        that extra hour of evening golf would be no good. We don't need905        it to be light at 4 AM under the Standard time system.906907        Although ST would allow some courses to have grounds908        maintenance start earlier, many courses may not be able to take909        advantage of the earlier start due to local noise ordinances.910911        When working a 12-month calendar, having earlier leave times at912        the end of the day is needed. Going home later will make hiring913        more difficult if it is for extended time. The winter months914        are a needed break and allow employees to spend more time with915        their families.916917        Permanent Standard time would cause income loss that would be918        devastating to our public course!919920        A change to Permanent Standard Time would devastate the revenue921        we are able to generate. I am currently able to sell early922        morning tee times, then host a late-morning golf outing and an923        evening after-work golf league. Losing an hour of evening light924        would only be able to sell it twice.925926        Standard Time would be a disaster for golf & outdoor927        recreation. If we lock into Standard Time year-round, here's928        what we're facing:929930     4:30 AM sunrises that no one benefits from.931932     An impossible hiring situation for maintenance crews933            starting at 3:30 AM.934935     Tee sheets with massive gaps in the morning and no936            twilight rounds to make up for it.937938     Leagues, tournaments, and evening events canceled or939            severely limited.940941     A massive economic hit--not just to golf, but to all942            outdoor recreation and tourism.943944        If we had permanent Standard time it would affect our ability945        to get the maintenance out early in the morning due to the946        timing of the local noise ordinances. We may actually lose some947        of those morning times because we would have to start later in948        the day. The one positive I would see in permanent Standard949        time is being able to get golf shop and cart staff home a950        little earlier. Here in Idaho it is light until almost 10 pm in951        June/July and cart staff especially can be here until 11 pm.952953        Going to a permanent DST would reduce my facility's revenue by954        over $144,000 by eliminating my first hour of tee times, 7am to955        8 am. Additionally, adjusting maintenance schedules to avoid956        working in the dark is not desirable.957958        The high fixed costs of maintaining a golf course (or any959        business) would remain the same whether or not we are on960        standard time or daylight savings time. A typical 18 hole golf961        course in Michigan budgets approximate 50 percent of their962        overall expenses to go to course maintenance. So with that lost963        revenue, and the same fixed costs for a business where does964        that leave a business to cut? The job impact in Michigan from965        the golf industry is 60,000! How will that affect the economic966        health of Michigan?967Status Quo--Industry Sentiment968    27 percent of NGCOA members support keeping the current status of969changing the clocks twice per year. And as we identified previously,970there is a 19 percent gap between those who say Daylight Saving will971benefit their business and a desire to actually lock the clock on DST.972It can be interpreted that between a quarter and one-third of our973members would prefer that we keep changing the clocks twice per year.974Many golf courses in areas that slow down in the winter and receive975modest play enjoy having some relief later in the day for their976employees with the sun setting earlier. Thus, many enjoy the changing977of the clocks with the changing of the seasons for workplace culture978benefits.979    Comments on Status Quo from industry practitioners:980        Since we are not open for golf in the winter months, switching981        to DST permanently would not have much effect on our operation.982        Switching to ST would not benefit us as we would not start983        earlier in the morning, and would lose time in the evening for984        golf revenue.985        DST in the winter would result in not opening until well after986        10:00 on certain days due to frost. Thus likely causing a987        significant loss of morning rounds (seniors) in the winter988        without any gain in the evening due to sunset at 6:00 (not989        enough time for golf after work). ST in the summer would990        obviously significantly impact league and evening play without991        an offsetting gain in the morning with sunrise being before992        5:00 a.m. for much of the summer. Our best scenario is the993        current system of switching between DST & ST.994        For the Florida golf industry, a change to permanent Daylight995        Saving time would cost us lots of revenue as it would be darker996        and longer in the winter mornings. This is the time of year997        that Florida clubs make all or most of their money. Golfers do998        not play in the evening in the winter, so we would see no999        additional revenue during the winter months. The status quo1000        makes the best sense for the Florida golf industry.1001        This issue is far bigger than golf. It's also for the safety of1002        children so they don't have to go to school in the dark in1003        winter. Anyone who puts business profitability over the safety1004        of American children is, in my opinion, on the wrong side of1005        history. Also, to all of the people who want to eliminate the1006        practice of changing clocks twice a year. . . . . why? What1007        legitimate reason do they have other than they don't like it?1008        Making DST permanent would bring in more revenue in the short1009        term. However, costs would also increase, and employees' work/1010        life balance would also be affected. Evening times are great1011        for those with families and family commitments. Adding more1012        sunlight hours during this time would affect that. I don't see1013        many clubs adding additional staff, even if their revenue1014        streams increase.1015Conclusion1016    The golf industry is acutely aware of how making potential changes1017to the clock by eliminating either Daylight Saving Time or Standard1018Time is a modern-day Gordian Knot for lawmakers. There will be winners1019and losers no matter which way the knot is cut. Data and sentiment from1020the golf industry, though, reveal a clear favorability toward permanent1021Daylight Saving Time. Overall, permanent DST is viewed as more1022beneficial to the golf industry particularly for small business1023revenue, accessibility to the game, and general recreational enjoyment1024and benefits. Our industry is uniquely tied to daylight, and the number1025of playable hours directly affects the number of rounds we can offer,1026the staff we employ, and the revenue we generate, especially in the1027late afternoon and early evening.1028    The National Golf Course Owners Association does not take a formal1029position on whether Congress should make Daylight Saving Time1030permanent, because a healthy portion of our members prefer the status1031quo. However, while a very small percentage of our members favor1032Standard Time, we want to make it clear that we oppose any proposal to1033make Standard Time permanent and year-round for the entire nation.1034Permanent Standard Time would result in earlier sunsets for most of the1035year, particularly in spring, summer, and early fall, the peak seasons1036for most of our industry. This shift would eliminate critical late-day1037tee times and reduce twilight leagues, after-work play, food-and-1038beverage revenue, cart fees and more. In some regions, 25-40 percent of1039daily rounds begin after 3:00 p.m. Permanent Standard Time would put1040much of that business at risk. Beyond revenue, this would hurt seasonal1041employment, fundraising events for charities, and accessibility for1042working golfers who rely on evening hours. These economic impacts would1043be most severe in states with long seasons and large golf economies,1044such as Florida, California, Arizona, and the Carolinas, as well as the1045Northern tier, seasonal and golf-dense places like Michigan,1046Pennsylvania, New York, New England and the Pacific Northwest.1047    While we sympathize with some of the sleep-related arguments for1048permanent Standard Time, we believe the counterweight of outside1049activity in the latter parts of the day provides significant health1050benefits that cannot be ignored. Child and adult obesity can be stemmed1051through sun-lit play and exercise outdoors. Hikers, joggers and bikers1052are at greater safety risk--or may choose not to participate--with1053earlier sunsets. The biological benefits of sunlight and related1054Vitamin D are well documented, including improved immune functions,1055bone health and positive mental health. In short, a reduction in active1056hours would likely lead to further health issues caused by a more1057sedentary lifestyle. Ample research supports serious crime reduction1058being correlated with increased daylight. We would rather see the1059Senate favor the status quo over permanent Standard Time.1060    We ask the Senate to consider the practical and economic1061consequences of losing evening daylight. We encourage policymakers to1062explore solutions that preserve extended daylight, which supports not1063only golf but also greater outdoor recreation, tourism, hospitality,1064good health and local economies.1065    We extend our gratitude to the following people and organizations1066for contributing information and insight to our written testimony:10671068   Ronnie Miles, Senior Director of Advocacy, National Golf1069        Course Owners Association10701071   Thomas Smith, Chief Operating Officer, National Golf Course1072        Owners Association10731074   Jim Koppenhaver, Principal, Pellucid Corporation10751076   Stuart Lindsay, President, Edgehill Golf Advisors10771078   Greg Nathan, President and CEO, National Golf Foundation10791080   David Lorentz, Chief Research Officer, National Golf1081        Foundation10821083   Greg McLaughlin, CEO, World Golf Foundation10841085   Chava McKeel, Director of Government Affairs, Golf Course1086        Superintendents Association of America10871088    The Chairman. Thank you. Dr. Johnson.10891090   STATEMENT OF DR. KARIN JOHNSON, PRACTICING PHYSICIAN AND1091     PROFESSOR OF NEUROLOGY, UMASS CHAN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE1092 BAYSTATE--ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF SLEEP MEDICINE10931094    Dr. Johnson. Thank you, Chairman Cruz, Senator Blunt1095Rochester, distinguished Members of the Senate. Thank you for1096having me.1097    My name is Dr. Karin Johnson. As stated, I am a neurologist1098and practicing sleep medicine specialist in Massachusetts, and1099I am here representing the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.1100    I want to extend my gratitude to Chairman Cruz for having1101this timely committee hearing. In December, President Trump1102called to end Daylight Saving Time, and his Make America1103Healthy Commission's mandate to reduce chronic diseases,1104especially in children, aligns with permanent Standard Time.1105Unfortunately, permanent Daylight Saving Time and the Sunshine1106Protection Act do the opposite.1107    So I have three main takeaways. First, the spring clock1108change to Daylight Saving Time is bad, but permanent Daylight1109Saving Time is worse.1110    Second, year-round Standard Time is the natural, healthy1111choice promoting physical health, mental health, performance,1112and safety.1113    Third, history supports that permanent Standard Time is the1114only viable solution to end seasonal clock change.1115    So let me elaborate. The majority of Americans do1116consistently want to lock the clock but have been more1117inconsistent about how to ditch the switch. But in March, there1118was a new Gallup Poll that just showed a significant shift in1119public opinion, with twice as many Americans now supporting1120permanent Standard Time over permanent Daylight Saving Time.1121Sixty percent of Americans and 80 percent of teens do not get1122the recommended amount of sleep, so there is a lot of room to1123improve sleep.1124    Think about how you or your children feel after a bad night1125of sleep. Maybe you forgot an important meeting, drifted out of1126your lane, eaten that extra bowl of ice cream. I know I have1127done those things. You may have struggled to get your teenager1128out of bed, or been a little short with your husband.1129    Now instead, think about how much better you feel and1130function after a good night's sleep. Permanent Standard Time1131would give more Americans the opportunity to improve their1132sleep without even trying. The sun is one of the most powerful1133drivers of health and well-being, but the timing of sunlight is1134what is critically important. Without enough morning light or1135with too much evening light, our circadian rhythms delay. This1136disrupts our sleep patterns and our body and brain functions.1137    Permanent Daylight Saving Time would cause sunrises after 81138a.m. for two to four months every winter, depriving us of this1139critical morning light. This is why permanent Daylight Saving1140Time would be exponentially worse than seasonal Daylight Saving1141Time.1142    The adverse effects are greatest in our children, our1143teenagers, and other night owls whose bodies' clocks already1144run late. As discussed, there are many harmful benefits that1145occur in the days after this change, especially in the spring,1146to Daylight Saving Time, including more strokes and heart1147attacks. As highlighted in the prior testimony, brain function1148is really affected by sleep. And so, we heard about judges1149making harsher statements.1150    However, these harms do not mean that permanent Daylight1151Saving Time would be better. Instead, the later sunrises and1152sunsets of Daylight Saving Time lead to higher risks of chronic1153diseases including, but not limited to, cancer, diabetes, heart1154disease, obesity, and these outweigh the short-term risks of1155what happens with the time change.1156    There is also data that says that permanent Standard Time1157also results in better mental health outcomes, including1158reducing rates of depression and suicide, this is not1159surprising, as morning light and healthy sleep are known1160treatments for depression. On the other hand, poor sleep1161increases the risk of drug use, alcohol use, and other risk-1162taking behaviors.1163    There are some misconceptions I want to address. As1164discussed, permanent Daylight Saving Time does not make days1165longer, nor is it the reason why people feel better in the1166summer. Instead, permanent Daylight Saving Time is a hidden1167mandate to wake Americans up an hour earlier rather--to their1168alarm clocks rather than the sun.1169    If we called it the ``Go to Work an Hour Earlier Act''1170rather than the ``Sunshine Protection Act'', no one would be1171voting for it. Permanent Daylight Savings Time does not1172increase overall exercise levels in the U.S., and even if some1173people exercise more, obesity, and heart disease, these chronic1174diseases are still more prevalent.1175    There is no--while darkness comes with health and safety1176risks, Daylight Saving Time is not the solution. There is no1177data to support that permanent Daylight Saving Time would1178reduce overall crime or motor vehicle crashes. Instead, later1179sunrises and sunsets are associated with 20 percent more fatal1180crashes.1181    The negative impact of Daylight Saving Time on sleep and1182our brain health harms the economy, workers, especially those1183with early start times before 8:30, think of your farmers, your1184transportation workers, your factory workers are less likely to1185be productive and efficient. Workplace injuries rise after the1186transition to Daylight Saving Time, and health care spending1187increases.1188    On the other hand, permanent Standard Time improves1189academic success in our children with higher test scores. Your1190constituents' utility bills will be lower with permanent1191Standard Time by reducing heating and cooling costs.1192    And finally, the U.S. tried and quickly abandoned permanent1193Daylight Saving Time twice before, most recently in 1974. It1194just does not work. It will not last. For those that are1195serious about ending clock changes, permanent Standard Time is1196the only viable solution.1197    Please refer to my written testimony for more details. And1198I am happy to look forward to the questions later.1199    [The prepared statement of Dr. Johnson follows:]12001201  Prepared Statement of Karin Johnson, MD, FAAN, FAASM, Professor of1202    Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan School of Medicine-1203   Baystate, American Academy of Sleep Medicine, Advocacy Committee1204         Member Co-Chair, Coalition for Permanent Standard Time1205 Permanent Standard Time: the Naturally Healthy and Lasting Way to End1206                              Clock Change1207    Chairman Cruz, Ranking Member Cantwell, and Distinguished Members1208of the Senate:12091210    My name is Dr. Karin Johnson. I am a practicing sleep medicine1211specialist and neurologist at UMASS Chan School of Medicine-Baystate. I1212received my undergraduate degree from Harvard University and medical1213degree at University of Chicago. I trained in neurology at Brown1214University and sleep medicine at Harvard University. My primary focus1215is clinical sleep medicine. My research centers on how sleep disorders1216and sleep health impact overall health and brain function. My support1217for permanent Standard Time stems from my commitment to promoting sleep1218health and brain health on a larger scale.1219    Today, I appear in my personal capacity as a sleep medicine1220physician, a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine Advocacy1221Committee and the Co-Chair of the Coalition for permanent Standard1222Time. This coalition includes the American Academy of Sleep Medicine,1223Sleep Research Society, Society for Research on Biological Rhythms,1224National Sleep Foundation and the non-profit Save Standard Time. Please1225note that the views expressed in my testimony do not necessarily1226reflect those of my employer.1227    Thank you for inviting me to speak at this important hearing. I1228commend this committee for thoughtfully considering changes to Daylight1229Saving Time (DST), particularly in regard to its impact on the health1230and wellbeing of the American people. I echo President Trump's call to1231end Daylight Saving Time.\1\ Permanent Standard time aligns with his1232executive order establishing the Make America Healthy commission to1233protect the wellbeing of the Nation and especially of our children. The1234Sunshine Protection Act for permanent Daylight Saving Time would do the1235opposite.1236---------------------------------------------------------------------------1237    \1\ (Bink, 2024)1238---------------------------------------------------------------------------1239    In my professional opinion and that of other scientific and medical1240societies including but not limited to the American Academy of Sleep1241Medicine, American Academy of Neurology, and the National Safety1242Council, permanent Standard Time offers multiple positive benefits for1243physical and mental health, safety and performance.1244    My testimony will focus on:12451246  1.  The harms of the spring clock change to Daylight Saving Time and1247        the greater risks of year-round Daylight Saving Time.12481249  2.  Permanent Standard Time is the natural, healthy choice offering1250        multiple long-term benefits to physical health, mental health,1251        safety and performance.12521253  3.  History supports year-round Standard Time as the only viable1254        solution to end clock change.12551256    The majority of Americans have consistently called for an end to1257seasonal clock changes. Last month, President Trump held off on action,1258stating that he perceived the public as evenly split on which clock1259should be made permanent. However, the same week, a national Gallop1260poll revealed a significant shift in public opinion with twice as many1261Americans now supporting permanent Standard Time (48 percent) over1262permanent Daylight Saving Time (24 percent).\2\1263---------------------------------------------------------------------------1264    \2\ (Evans & Jones, 2025)1265---------------------------------------------------------------------------1266Sleep Health: A Pillar of Overall Health and Well-being1267    Consider how you or your children have felt after a poor night's1268sleep. Maybe you've missed an important meeting, snapped at your1269spouse, drifted out of your lane, skipped the gym, or eaten an extra1270bowl of ice cream. You may have struggled to get an overly tired1271toddler to behave or have drag your teenager out of bed for school.1272Contrast that with how much better you feel and function after a1273restful sleep. Permanent Standard Time would help more Americans1274experience that improvement by providing a more natural alignment1275between our social schedules and the sun's cycle every day of the year.1276    There is a growing understanding among doctors, educators, athletes1277and mental health professionals that sleep is critical but often1278underutilized tool for improving overall health. Americans are facing a1279sleep deprivation epidemic, with 60 percent of adults\3\ and 80 percent1280of teens\4\ not getting the recommended amount of sleep. Even small1281improvements in sleep can significantly boost metabolism, mood, immune1282function and performance.1283---------------------------------------------------------------------------1284    \3\ (NationalSleepFoundation, 2025)1285    \4\ (NationalSleepFoundation, 2024)1286---------------------------------------------------------------------------1287    High-profile athletes, including Tom Brady, Kirk Cousins, Lebron1288James, Gabby Thomas, Roger Federer and Justin Thomas have capitalized1289on this understanding to improve their performance through sleep1290optimization.\5\1291---------------------------------------------------------------------------1292    \5\ (Gatto, 2019; Gorman, 2024; Ibach, 2019; Scipioni, 2021;1293Sekaran, 2023)1294---------------------------------------------------------------------------1295Clock Time Matters1296    Good sleep is not just the number of hours, but also the timing and1297quality. Human beings are diurnal (not nocturnal); our bodies crave1298morning light to wake and evening darkness to sleep. Permanent Standard1299Time improves sleep health by aligning our clocks more naturally with1300the sun. Standard Time naturally places the sun directly overhead at1301noon at the meridian (dotted line) of each time zone. Daylight Saving1302Time shifts the clock time so that the sun is overhead an hour later.1303[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]13041305    Every cell in our body has a biological clock that synchronizes1306with a master clock in the brain, aligning our circadian rhythms to a130724-hour day.\6\ To keep our internal clocks synchronized, most people1308need morning light and evening darkness. However, Daylight Saving Time1309stresses the body and brain by continually exposing us to the opposite1310conditions. Throughout the entire Daylight Saving Time period, our1311social schedules are misaligned with our natural circadian rhythms.1312This makes it harder to sleep and wake, and it strains metabolic and1313neurological functions.1314---------------------------------------------------------------------------1315    \6\ Picture adapted from (Saini, Brown, & Dibner, 2015) and (Dijk &1316Lockley, 2002)1317[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]13181319    The effects of circadian misalignment are familiar to many of us1320during flights across time zones. With conventional jetlag, new timing1321of sunrise at our destination resynchronizes our internal rhythms to1322the local environment within a few days. However, with Daylight Saving1323Time our circadian hormones levels (such as the natural morning release1324of wakefulness-promoting cortisol) remain more aligned to the sun.\7\1325Chronobiologists refer to this condition as ``social jet lag''.1326---------------------------------------------------------------------------1327    \7\ (Hadlow, Brown, Wardrop, & Henley, 2014)1328[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]13291330    When our alarms ring at 7 a.m. during Daylight Saving Time, our1331bodies still feel like it is 6 a.m. near the time zone meridian. On the1332western edge of the time zone, it feels closer to 5:30 a.m.1333[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]13341335    When Daylight Saving Time is extended into winter's unavoidably1336shorter days, it pushes sunrise in most states past 8 a.m. for three or1337more months, and past 9 a.m in some locations. The long deprivation of1338crucial morning sunlight is why year-round Daylight Saving Time is1339exponentially more harmful than seasonal Daylight Saving Time.1340[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]13411342    Adolescents, teens and young adults have the most circadian1343disruption from Daylight Saving Time because their body rhythms already1344run late.\8\ Any parent of a teenager knows you can't just tell a kid1345to go to bed when they aren't tired. This is because before sleep1346onset, teenagers have the strongest drive for alertness (in what sleep1347scientist call the ``forbidden zone'').\9\ With more evening light1348during Daylight Saving Time pushing rhythms even later, most teenagers1349are biologically unable to get enough sleep before their morning alarms1350ring. This results in an increased number of teenagers trying to catch1351up on sleep over weekends,\10\ which is associated with numerous1352adverse health and performance outcomes.\11\1353---------------------------------------------------------------------------1354    \8\ (Crowley, Acebo, & Carskadon, 2007)1355    \9\ (Lavie, 1986)1356    \10\ (Borisenkov et al., 2017)1357    \11\ (Castro et al., 2021; Foster et al., 2013; Haraszti, Ella,1358Gyongyosi, Roenneberg, & Kaldi, 2014; Levandovski et al., 2011;1359McGowan, Uzoni, Faltraco, Thome, & Coogan, 2020; Panev et al., 2017;1360Parsons et al., 2015; Phillips et al., 2017; Roenneberg, Allebrandt,1361Merrow, & Vetter, 2012)1362---------------------------------------------------------------------------1363The Harms of the Spring Clock Change to Daylight Saving Time and the1364        Greater Risks of Year-round Daylight Saving Time1365    The transition from Standard Time to Daylight Saving Time in the1366spring is particularly harmful (see table below), but year-round1367Daylight Saving Time is even worse. Our body rhythms never adjust to1368the later sunrises and sunsets of Daylight Saving Time. These are1369associated with many long-term risks, including higher rates of cancer,1370obesity, heart attacks, depression, suicide and fatal car crashes.\12\1371Independent reviews of the literature have resulted in multiple1372position statements by medical and scientific groups in support of1373permanent Standard Time.\13\1374---------------------------------------------------------------------------1375    \12\ (Borisenkov et al., 2017; Gentry, Evaniuck, Suriyamongkol, &1376Mali, 2022; Gu et al., 2017; D. J. Reis et al., 2023; T. VoPham et al.,13772018)1378    \13\ (Crawford et al., 2024; Malow, 2022; Medicine, 2022;1379Roenneberg et al., 2019)1380---------------------------------------------------------------------------1381Health, Safety and Performance Outcomes Worsened by the Spring Clock1382        Change\14\1383---------------------------------------------------------------------------1384    \14\ (Kantermann, Juda, Merrow, & Roenneberg, 2007; Lahti et al.,13852006) (Kolla, Coombes, Morgenthaler, & Mansukhani, 2021; Medina, Ebben,1386Milrad, Atkinson, & Krieger, 2015) (Barnes & Wagner, 2009; Ellis,1387Luther, & Jenkins, 2018; Holland & Hinze, 2000; Sipila, Ruuskanen,1388Rautava, & Kyto, 2016) (Kountouris, 2020; Manfredini et al., 2019)1389(Chudow et al., 2020) (Cho, Barnes, & Guanara, 2017; Gao, Lage, &1390Scullin, 2024; Kamstra, Kramer, & Levi, 2010) (Heacock et al., 2022)1391(Coate & Markowitz, 2004; Ferguson, 1996; Neumann & von Blanckenburg,13922025; Teke et al., 2021) (O'Connor & Kancheva, 2022; Yule, Krishna,1393Rahiri, & Hill, 2016)13941395------------------------------------------------------------------------13961397------------------------------------------------------------------------1398Sleep disruption                     Medical errors1399Teen sleep deprivation               Missed appointments1400Strokes                              Workplace injuries1401Heart attacks                        Human caused wildfires1402Atrial fibrillation                  Medical malpractice payments1403Autopsies including sudden infant    Harsher judges sentencing1404 death1405In-vitro fertilization rate failure  Stock market volatility1406Emergency room visits                Alcohol consumption1407Motor vehicle accidents              Athletic performance1408Suicide                              Athletic injuries1409------------------------------------------------------------------------14101411Can We Quantify the Short-term Impact?14121413------------------------------------------------------------------------14141415------------------------------------------------------------------------1416795,000 strokes /year  15,000 strokes/week. A 3% increase in stroke the1417 week after the time change  450 more strokes/each spring1418------------------------------------------------------------------------14191420    A study by JP Morgan indicates that the spring shift to Daylight1421Saving Time is associated with increased financial costs, including a14225.9 percent spike in healthcare spending in Los Angeles compared to1423Phoenix in the month after the change. (Arizona stays on Standard1424Time).1425Small Sleep Improvements, Big Impacts1426    We know from later school start time policies that small changes in1427sleep health can lead to meaningful benefits to health, mood, safety1428and performance.\15\ Permanent Standard Time would allow these benefits1429without requiring drastic changes. Whereas permanent DST would change1430the recommended school start time from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.1431---------------------------------------------------------------------------1432    \15\ (K. Wahlstrom et al., 2014) (Later; McKeever, Dodd, &1433O'Sullivan, 2022) (K. L. Wahlstrom, Berger, & Widome, 2017) (Danner &1434Phillips, 2008; Temkin, Princiotta, Ryberg, & Lewin, 2018)1435---------------------------------------------------------------------------1436Daylight Saving Time Impacts Certain Populations More1437   Teenagers and other night owls14381439   People with work or childcare start times before 8:30 a.m.1440        (the median work start in the United States is 7:55 a.m.)14411442   People who live on the western edge of time zones1443Corrections of Common Misconceptions1444   Daylight Saving Time does not make days longer14451446   Summer benefits health and mood due to its longer daylength1447        and warmer weather, not due to Daylight Saving Time.14481449   Studies fail to show permanent Daylight Saving Time1450        significantly increases exercise in the United States.\16\ Even1451        if some people exercise more, the risk of chronic health1452        disorders increases due to sleep and circadian disruption.1453---------------------------------------------------------------------------1454    \16\ (Goodman, Page, Cooper, & International Children's1455Accelerometry Database, 2014; Zick, 2014)14561457   While darkness may come with health and safety risks,1458        Daylight Saving Time is not the solution, because sleep and1459---------------------------------------------------------------------------1460        circadian disruption cause even more health and safety risks.14611462   Permanent Standard Time results in fewer long-term mental1463        health disorders, reducing seasonal depression\17\ and1464        suicide.\18\ A 2025 study found that artificial delay of1465        sunrises and sunsets is associated with a roughly 6 percent1466        increase in the incidence of depression.\19\ This is not1467        surprising, as morning light and healthy sleep are known1468        treatments for mental health disorders.1469---------------------------------------------------------------------------1470    \17\ (Borisenkov et al., 2017)1471    \18\ (D. J. Reis et al., 2023)1472    \19\ (Argys, Averett, & Yang, 2025)14731474   There are no data to support that permanent Daylight Saving1475        Time would reduce year-round crime or motor vehicle crashes,1476        there are only data to support short-term effects after the1477        clock change. Moreover, a recent study spanning eleven years of1478        data across the Nation showed that artificial delay of sunrises1479        and sunsets is associated with 21.8 percent more fatal1480        crashes.\20\ Furthermore, sleep disruption is associated with1481        drug and alcohol use, poorer judgment, more risk-taking1482        behaviors and greater aggression--all of which are risk factors1483        for criminality and for vehicular accidents.1484---------------------------------------------------------------------------1485    \20\ (Gentry et al., 2022)14861487   Farmers historically have supported permanent Standard Time.1488        Many aspects of farm and ranch work remained aligned to the1489        sun, for example, the time dew clears from the fields and the1490        circadian rhythms of farm animals. Animals are also impacted by1491        clock changes, becoming less active after sunrise after the1492        transition to Daylight Saving Time.\21\ Rural areas were1493        particularly affected in 1974 when people were made to commute1494        to work in the dark and send their kids to school in the dark1495        during permanent Daylight Saving Time.1496---------------------------------------------------------------------------1497    \21\ (Nagendran, Li, Samson, & Schroeder, 2025)14981499   Night owls often express a preference for Daylight Saving1500        Time, believing later sunrise and sunsets align better with1501        their natural rhythm. However, their circadian rhythms are more1502        sensitive to the delayed light exposure of Daylight Saving1503        Time.\22\ When night owls miss morning light or get exposed to1504        too much light in the evening, their internal body clocks have1505        a greater degree of misalignment with the external environment1506        than people with earlier sleep timing preferences, or1507        ``chronotypes''. This misalignment is called ``social jet1508        lag'', and it is associated with chronic health risks,1509        including higher rates of obesity, depression, and1510        cardiovascular problems.\23\ Night owls are also more likely to1511        experience greater sleep loss after the seasonal clock change1512        to Daylight Saving Time.\24\ One of the most effective medical1513        treatments for helping night owls to wake on time for work and1514        school is high-intensity morning light exposure.\25\ Morning1515        light helps reset their circadian rhythms, making it easier to1516        wake up earlier and feel more aligned with the typical work1517        day. Permanent Standard Time would not only help night owls1518        rise without the harshness of an alarm clock, but also support1519        healthier sleep cycles, making it easier for them to fall1520        asleep earlier. The mental and physical health benefits of1521        permanent Standard Time are greater for night owls.1522---------------------------------------------------------------------------1523    \22\ (C. Reis et al., 2023)1524    \23\ (Farkova, Smotek, Bendova, Mankova, & Koprivova, 2021)1525(Fischer & Lombardi, 2022) (Juda, Vetter, & Roenneberg, 2013) (McMahon1526et al., 2019) (Owens, Dearth-Wesley, Herman, & Whitaker, 2019)1527(Merikanto et al., 2013) (Urban, Magyarodi, & Rigo, 2011) (Wong,1528Hasler, Kamarck, Muldoon, & Manuck, 2015)1529    \24\ (Putilov, Poluektov, & Dorokhov, 2020)1530    \25\ (Narala, Ahsan, Ednick, & Kier, 2024)15311532   The negative impact of Daylight Saving Time on sleep harms1533        the economy. Workers, especially those with early start times1534        before 8:30 a.m., are less likely to be productive and1535        efficient during periods of circadian misalignment.\26\1536        Permanent Standard Time improves academic success with higher1537        high school test scores than even seasonal Daylight Saving1538        Time.\27\ Additionally, health care bills and work-place1539        injuries rise after the transition to Daylight Saving Time and1540        utility bills, heating and cooling costs are lower during1541        Standard Time.\28\1542---------------------------------------------------------------------------1543    \26\ (Giuntella & Mazzonna, 2019)1544    \27\ (Gaski & Sagarin, 2011)1545    \28\ (Barnes & Wagner, 2009; Depalo, 2023; Farrell, Narasiman, &1546Ward Jr., 2016; Kotchen & Grant, 2011)1547---------------------------------------------------------------------------1548Historical Context and the Case for Permanent Standard Time1549    Prior to 1966, most states enjoyed permanent Standard Time for1550eight decades outside of wartime. It was only after the Uniform Time1551Act was enacted, with its prescribed adherence to seasonal Daylight1552Saving Time, that most states began to observe biannual clock changes.1553Permanent Daylight Saving Time has been tried before, notably during1554World War II and the 1974 Oil Crisis, but it was quickly abandoned due1555to its unpopularity and negative effects. Permitting states to adopt1556permanent Daylight Saving Time could create significant economic and1557logistical issues, especially for industries like transportation and1558broadcasting. Prevention of such problems was why the Uniform Time Act1559of 1966 was enacted.\29\ For example, it has been estimated that1560companies spend $350 million dollars in computer fixes to deal with1561Daylight Saving Time transitions.\30\ Thus, a national or at least1562regional approach, with adequate preparation time and careful choice of1563the most sustainable permanent clock, is preferred.1564---------------------------------------------------------------------------1565    \29\ (United States. Congress. House. Committee on Interstate and1566Foreign Commerce., 1973)1567    \30\ (Lohr, 2007)1568---------------------------------------------------------------------------1569    A recent review disproves the claimed energy savings of Daylight1570Saving Time,\31\ including studies showing utility bills increase1571during Daylight Saving Time, due to higher heating and cooling1572costs.\32\1573---------------------------------------------------------------------------1574    \31\ (Neumann & von Blanckenburg, 2025)1575    \32\ (Farrell et al., 2016; Kotchen & Grant, 2011)1576---------------------------------------------------------------------------1577    Only about 70 countries currently have seasonal Daylight Saving1578Time policies, with most countries following year-round Standard Time.1579Mexico most recently adopted year-round Standard Time in 2022.1580Permanent Standard Time has been shown to be a lasting option, whereas1581permanent Daylight Saving Time in the United States and elsewhere has1582been unsustainable.1583Conclusion1584    In summary, while seasonal Daylight Saving Time allows for more1585evening light, it forces unpopular, costly and harmful biannual clock1586changes.1587    Permanent Standard Time offers a balanced approach that aligns with1588our natural circadian rhythms, improves health, safety, and1589productivity, and eliminates the harmful and unpopular effects of1590seasonal clock changes. While Daylight Saving Time may seem beneficial1591on the surface, it brings substantial costs to our well-being and1592inefficiencies to our economy. I urge this committee to consider the1593long-term benefits of adopting Permanent Standard Time.1594Additional Information About Seasonal Transition Effects1595    Studies of motor vehicle crashes after clock changes have shown1596varying results,\33\ but one study that analyzed data over ten years1597found the spring transition to Daylight Saving Time likely increases1598fatal motor vehicle crashes, with a 6 percent rise in fatalities1599reported. This risk is most significant in the western edges of time1600zones, where circadian disruption is greatest.\34\1601---------------------------------------------------------------------------1602    \33\ (Coate & Markowitz, 2004; Ferguson, 1996; Goodwin, Gonzalez, &1603Fontenla, 2024; Neumann & von Blanckenburg, 2025; Teke et al., 2021)1604    \34\ (Fritz, VoPham, Wright, & Vetter, 2020)1605---------------------------------------------------------------------------1606    Hansen et al's often-cited study showed an 11 percent increase in1607depression episodes after the fall transition from Daylight Saving Time1608to Standard Time, but the rates then decreased over the next two months1609during Standard Time. This suggests a short-term worsening after the1610change, and a long-term protective effect of Standard Time, despite1611shortening day lengths.\35\ However, other types of studies are needed1612to inform the long-term effects. For example, one study that compared1613permanent Daylight Saving Time to permanent Standard Time found highest1614rates of seasonal depression during permanent Daylight Saving Time.\36\1615Another study found a 6 percent higher incidence of depression with1616later sunrises and sunsets.\37\1617---------------------------------------------------------------------------1618    \35\ (Hansen, Sonderskov, Hageman, Dinesen, & Ostergaard, 2017)1619    \36\ (Borisenkov et al., 2017)1620    \37\ (Argys et al., 2025)1621[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]16221623    Doleac et al's often-cited study reported a 27 percent drop in1624robberies occurring in the two hours around and after sunset after the1625spring Daylight Saving Time to Standard Time transition.\38\ Their data1626supports an acute effect of light on decreasing robbery rates, but it1627is unlikely crime rates would be lower overall with permanent Daylight1628Saving Time when sleep factors are taken in account. In fact, their1629data shows more crimes were committed during DST period, per their1630table below.1631---------------------------------------------------------------------------1632    \38\ (Doleac & Sanders, 2015; Munyo, 2018)1633[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]16341635Data Informing the Long-term Impact of Clock Time Choice1636Sleep Effect of 1-hour Earlier Sunset and Sunrise on Working Adults in1637        US\39\1638---------------------------------------------------------------------------1639    \39\ (Giuntella & Mazzonna, 2019)16401641------------------------------------------------------------------------1642              Social Factor                  Average Daily Sleep Gain1643------------------------------------------------------------------------1644Employed Adults                           19 minutes1645Work-start before 7 a.m.                  36 minutes1646Parents of children with school start     27 minutes1647 time before 8 a.m.1648Work-start after 8:30 a.m. without        No change1649 children1650------------------------------------------------------------------------16511652    Social Jet Lag (sleeping in >2 hours later on weekends) is less1653common in adolescents with permanent Standard Time\40\1654---------------------------------------------------------------------------1655    \40\ (Borisenkov et al., 2017)1656---------------------------------------------------------------------------1657                                Exercise1658   No change in average exercise in U.S. adolescents with later1659        sunsets\41\1660---------------------------------------------------------------------------1661    \41\ (Goodman et al., 2014)16621663   Comparing Arizona to nearby states, Daylight Saving Time1664        doesn't increase adult physical activity, but it may change the1665        time of day that exercise occurs\42\1666---------------------------------------------------------------------------1667    \42\ (Zick, 2014)1668---------------------------------------------------------------------------1669                                 Health1670   Childhood obesity rates decrease with less social jet1671        lag\43\1672---------------------------------------------------------------------------1673    \43\ (Liang et al., 2022)16741675   Fewer cases of being overweight or obese with 1-hour earlier1676        sunrise/sunset\44\1677---------------------------------------------------------------------------1678    \44\ (Giuntella & Mazzonna, 2019)16791680   More sun-aligned clock time is associated with lower rates1681        of cancer, heart attacks, coronary artery disease and1682        diabetes\45\1683---------------------------------------------------------------------------1684    \45\ (Giuntella & Mazzonna, 2019; Gu et al., 2017; Trang VoPham et1685al., 2018)16861687   Health care costs are lower with both stopping clock1688        transitions and more sun-aligned clock time\46\1689---------------------------------------------------------------------------1690    \46\ (Co., 2016; Giuntella & Mazzonna, 2019)1691---------------------------------------------------------------------------1692                             Mental Health1693   While people can feel mood brighten when going out in the1694        sun, the timing of light and quality of sleep are more1695        important for long-term mental health16961697   Morning light-box treatment improves mood;\47\ Standard Time1698        naturally provides morning light1699---------------------------------------------------------------------------1700    \47\ (Terman, 2007)17011702   6 percent higher incidence of depression with later sunrise1703        and sunset\48\1704---------------------------------------------------------------------------1705    \48\ (Argys et al., 2025)17061707   1-2/100,000 more suicides with later sunrise and sunset;\49\1708        more aligned clocks could prevent about 5,000 suicides per year1709---------------------------------------------------------------------------1710    \49\ (D. J. Reis et al., 2023)17111712   Sleep and circadian disruption is associated with increased1713        substance abuse\50\1714---------------------------------------------------------------------------1715    \50\ (Hasler et al., 2017; Hasler et al., 2022)17161717   Winter depression rates are highest during permanent1718        Daylight Saving Time and lowest during permanent Standard1719        Time\51\1720---------------------------------------------------------------------------1721    \51\ (Borisenkov et al., 2017)1722---------------------------------------------------------------------------1723Real-world Trials Abroad1724[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]17251726Can We Quantify the Difference Between Permanent DST and Permanent ST?17271728------------------------------------------------------------------------17291730------------------------------------------------------------------------1731Given 42.9 million adolescents in the United States and prevalence rate1732 of seasonal depression in adolescents of 1.7-5.5%, a 2.2% difference is1733 approximately 16,000-52,000 fewer children with seasonal depression1734 during permanent Standard Time than during permanent Daylight Saving1735 Time.1736------------------------------------------------------------------------17371738                    Workplace Performance and Safety1739   Many studies demonstrate that sleep and circadian disruption1740        result in worsened brain function, including worsened1741        concentration, attention, reaction time, decision making and1742        learning/memory, affecting workplace relationships, performance1743        and safety\52\1744---------------------------------------------------------------------------1745    \52\ (Barnes, 2012; Barnes, Ghumman, & Scott, 2013; Barnes,1746Guarana, Nauman, & Kong, 2016; Barnes, Gunia, & Wagner, 2015; Barnes,1747Lucianetti, Bhave, & Christian, 2015; Diaz-Morales & Escribano, 2015;1748Gish, Wagner, Gregoire, & Barnes, 2019; Guarana & Barnes, 2017; McGowan1749et al., 2020; McGowan, Voinescu, & Coogan, 2016; Panev et al., 2017;1750Scullin, Hebl, Corrington, & Nguyen, 2020; Uehli et al., 2014; Wagner,1751Barnes, Lim, & Ferris, 2012)17521753   Later sunrises and sunsets are associated with over $6001754        million per year in lost productivity due to 4 million lost1755        workdays\53\1756---------------------------------------------------------------------------1757    \53\ (Giuntella & Mazzonna, 2019; Taillard, Sagaspe, Philip, &1758Bioulac, 2021)17591760   Professions with earlier work start times or shift work1761        schedules, including transportation construction, utility,1762        manufacturing, education and health services, are impacted most1763                               Education1764   Students living on permanent Standard Time had higher test1765        scores than those on seasonal Daylight Saving Time\54\1766---------------------------------------------------------------------------1767    \54\ (Gaski & Sagarin, 2011)17681769   Academic performance improves when social jet lag is1770        lower\55\1771---------------------------------------------------------------------------1772    \55\ (Haraszti et al., 2014)1773---------------------------------------------------------------------------1774                         Motor Vehicle Crashes1775   Despite the protective effect of more light during the1776        busier evening commute, driving is less safe during Daylight1777        Saving Time, due to sleep and circadian disruption effects17781779   21.8 percent more fatal motor vehicle crashes occur with1780        later sunsets;\56\ more aligned clocks could prevent 1,300 more1781        deaths per year1782---------------------------------------------------------------------------1783    \56\ (Gentry et al., 2022)17841785   Driving simulation testing improves throughout Standard Time1786        and worsens throughout Daylight Saving Time\57\1787---------------------------------------------------------------------------1788    \57\ (Orsini, Zarantonello, Costa, Rossi, & Montagnese, 2022)17891790   Permanent Daylight Saving Time has the most total commute1791        time in the dark1792[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]17931794             Sunrise Times on Permanent Daylight Saving Time1795------------------------------------------------------------------------1796                     First Day with     Last Day with1797       City         Sunrise After 8    Sunrise After 8   Latest Sunrise1798                           AM                AM1799------------------------------------------------------------------------1800Anchorage, AK      Sept 28            Mar 20            11:16 AM1801Atlanta, GA        Nov 4              Mar 7             8:44 AM1802Boston, MA         Dec 6              Jan 31            8:14 AM1803Charleston, WV     Nov 7              Feb 28            8:45 AM1804Chattanooga, TN    Oct 29             Mar 10            8:51 AM1805Cheyenne, WY       Nov 25             Feb 11            8:26 AM1806Chicago, IL        Dec 1              Feb 4             8:19 AM1807Cleveland, OH      Nov 1              Mar 2             8:54 AM1808Denver, CO         Nov 28             Feb 9             8:22 AM1809Detroit, MI        Oct 27             Mar 6             9:02 AM1810Helena, MT         Oct 24             Mar 5             9:13 AM1811Honolulu, HI       every day of the                     8:12 AM1812                    year1813Indianapolis, IN   Oct 19             Mar 13            9:07 AM1814Jackson, MS        Dec 23             Jan 23            8:03 AM1815Kansas City, KS    Nov 12             Feb 23            8:39 AM1816Madison, WI        Nov 22             Feb 12            8:30 AM1817Minneapolis, MN    Nov 6              Feb 24            8:52 AM1818Pierre, SD         Oct 17             Mar 12            9:18 AM1819Raleigh, NC        Nov 23             Feb 17            8:26 AM1820Reno, NV           Nov 29             Feb 8             8:21 AM1821Salt Lake City,    Nov 2              Mar 2             8:53 AM1822 UT1823San Antonio, TX    Nov 16             Mar 2             8:30 AM1824San Francisco, CA  Nov 24             Feb 15            8:26 AM1825Santa Fe, NM       Dec 5              Feb 6             8:15 AM1826Seattle, WA        Nov 5              Feb 24            8:58 AM1827St. Louis, MO      Nov 30             Feb 8             8:20 AM1828Tallahassee, FL    Nov 11             Mar 5             8:36 AM1829Trenton, NJ        Nov 27             Feb 9             8:22 AM1830Wilmington, DE     Nov 26             Feb 11            8:24 AM1831------------------------------------------------------------------------18321833                                                       [GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]18341835References1836    American Academy of Sleep Medicine, (2022). 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Relationships2269between school start time, sleep duration, and adolescent behaviors.2270Sleep Health, 3(3), 216-221. doi:10.1016/j.sleh.2017.03.0022271    Wong, M. M., Robertson, G. C., & Dyson, R. B. (2015). Prospective2272relationship between poor sleep and substance-related problems in a2273national sample of adolescents. Alcohol Clin Exp Res, 39(2), 355-362.2274doi:10.1111/acer.126182275    Yule, M. S., Krishna, S., Rahiri, J. L., & Hill, A. G. (2016).2276Trampoline-associated injuries are more common in children in spring. N2277Z Med J, 129(1436), 37-43.2278    Zick, C. D. (2014). Does Daylight Savings Time encourage physical2279activity? J Phys Act Health, 11(5), 1057-1060. doi:10.1123/jpah.2012-2280030022812282    The Chairman. Thank you very much.2283    Dr. Harkey.22842285           STATEMENT OF DR. DAVID HARKEY, PRESIDENT,2286             INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY22872288    Dr. Harkey. Chairman Cruz, Ranking Member Blunt Rochester,2289and members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to2290share the IIHS research on the road safety implications of2291Daylight Saving Time.2292    When discussing any topic on road safety in the United2293States it is important to set the stage. Simply put, we are in2294a road safety emergency. Crash deaths have risen nearly 302295percent since 2014, from below 33,000 to more than 42,000 in22962022. Pedestrian crashes in particular have reached crisis2297levels, climbing more than 80 percent from their low point in22982009.2299    Changing the clocks twice a year is relevant to road safety2300first and foremost because it affects the amount of ambient2301light during peak times for travel. We know that darkness is2302associated with increased risk of fatal crashes. We do about a2303quarter of our travel at night, but nearly half of motor2304vehicle occupant deaths and three-quarters of pedestrian deaths2305occur in the dark.2306    Obviously, adjusting the clock cannot increase the number2307of daylight hours but can only shift how they align with work2308and school schedules.2309    Since people travel at all times of day, and the risk2310created by darkness varies by road user type, the effects of2311these time changes on crashes are complex. The aim of our2312recent study was to examine the effect of changes in light2313conditions associated with the beginning and end of Daylight2314Saving Time. We examined 10 years of fatality data for the 5-2315weeks before and after each time change and only considered2316crashes between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m., and between 3 p.m. and 92317p.m. Ambient light conditions were calculated using the sunrise2318and sunset times corresponding to the geographic coordinates of2319each crash.2320    Crashes resulting in vehicle occupant deaths fell 7 percent2321in the 5-weeks after the time change in the fall and increased232212 percent in the 5-weeks after the time change in the spring.2323The opposite was true for crashes resulting in pedestrian or2324bicyclist deaths. Those crashes rose 13 percent in the fall,2325and declined 24 percent in the spring. The net effect was 262326fewer morning and evening crashes with pedestrian or bicyclist2327fatalities per year, and 29 additional morning and evening2328crashes with vehicle occupant fatalities.2329    It is important to emphasize that our study does not point2330to a preference for Standard Time or Daylight Saving Time based2331on road safety alone. The clearest take away from this research2332is that there is a strong relationship between increased2333darkness and fatal crashes, particularly for pedestrians and2334bicyclists. This is consistent with previous studies, including2335our own work from 30 years ago examining the effects of2336Daylight Saving Time.2337    While the clock may not hold the answer to our road safety2338crisis, there are known solutions for protecting pedestrians in2339dark and low-light conditions, and for reducing the crash toll2340overall. We should commit to infrastructure and vehicle2341improvements that have been shown to increase safety for2342pedestrians and bicyclists on different types of roadways in2343urban, suburban, and rural environments.2344    This includes engineering treatments to improve motor2345shielding behavior, and vehicle technologies such as better2346headlights and automatic emergency braking.2347    Efforts are also needed to address speed on our roadways.2348The speed effect on crash severity is more pronounced for2349pedestrians and bicyclists who do not have the benefit of the2350vehicle structure to protect them. Speed limit policy,2351enforcement, engineering, and vehicle technology all have a2352role to play in slowing down drivers. Such a multipronged2353strategy to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety at night2354exemplifies the safe system approach, which the U.S. DOT has2355adopted as the guiding paradigm of the National Roadway Safety2356Strategy. But implementation has simply been too slow.2357    We are alarmed by the rising toll of crashes on our2358Nation's roads and dismayed by the lack of urgency to fix the2359problem. For this reason, we recently launched an initiative we2360are calling 30x30, a goal to reduce U.S. fatalities 30 percent2361by 2030. Achieving this reduction will require concerted effort2362by all stakeholders. We will increase our efforts to address2363risky behaviors, seek opportunities to improve safety for2364everyone inside and outside the vehicle, and explore ways to2365make commercial vehicle fleets safer.2366    We ask everybody who cares about the needless loss of life2367on our roadways, including this committee, to think about what2368they can contribute to achieving the 30x30 goal.2369    Thank you.2370    [The prepared statement of Dr. Harkey follows:]23712372            Prepared Statement of David Harkey, President,2373             Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)2374    Chairman Cruz, Ranking Member Cantwell, and Members of the2375Committee--thank you for the opportunity to share my organization's2376research on the road safety implications of daylight saving time.2377    The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is an2378independent, nonprofit scientific and educational organization2379dedicated to reducing deaths, injuries and property damage from motor2380vehicle crashes through research and evaluation and through education2381of consumers, policymakers, and safety professionals. Our work is2382wholly supported by U.S. and Canadian auto insurers.2383    When discussing any topic on road safety in the United States, it2384is important to set the stage. Simply put, we are in the middle of a2385road safety emergency. Crash deaths have risen nearly 30 percent since23862014, from below 33,000 to more than 42,000 in 2022. Pedestrian deaths,2387in particular, have reached crisis levels, climbing 83 percent from2388their low point in 2009.2389    Changing the clocks twice a year is relevant to road safety first2390and foremost because it affects the amount of ambient light during peak2391times for travel. We know that darkness is associated with increased2392risk of fatal crashes. According to data from the National Highway2393Traffic Safety Administration and the Federal Highway Administration,2394less than a quarter of trips begin during nighttime hours, but nearly2395half of motor vehicle occupant deaths and 77 percent of pedestrian2396deaths occur in the dark. Obviously, adjusting the clock cannot2397increase the number of daylight hours, but can only shift how they2398align with work and school schedules. Since people travel at all times2399of day and the risk created by darkness varies by road user type, the2400effects of these time changes on crashes are complex.2401    IIHS sought to tease out some of this complexity in a recent2402study.\1\ When we looked at morning and evening crash patterns in the2403weeks surrounding the time changes, we found that the current policy2404results in a net annual decrease of 26 crashes with pedestrian or2405bicyclist fatalities per year but a net annual increase of 29 crashes2406with vehicle occupant fatalities. Safety improves for pedestrians after2407``springing ahead,'' while vehicle occupants fare better after2408``falling back.'' Further investigation showed that the fluctuation in2409pedestrian crash deaths is clearly tied to the amount of ambient light,2410but there is no clear connection for vehicle occupant fatalities.2411    If you are looking for concrete guidance on whether to keep the2412current twice-yearly time changes, to make daylight saving time2413permanent, or to abolish it completely, you may find this study2414unsatisfying, as the evidence does not point definitively one way or2415another. What our study does reinforce is that pedestrians and2416bicyclists are at greater risk in low light and dark conditions. Thus,2417whatever you decide to do about the clock, I hope you will also2418consider actions to keep pedestrians and bicyclists safe, especially2419after sundown.2420IIHS study of daylight saving time2421    The aim of our recent study was to examine the effect of changes in2422light conditions associated with the beginning and end of daylight2423saving time, rather than the short-term sleep disruption associated2424with changing the clock. IIHS researchers looked at data from the U.S.2425Department of Transportation's Fatality Analysis Reporting System for2426the 5 weeks before and after each time change from 2010 through 2019.2427Only crashes between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m. and between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m.2428were considered. Ambient light conditions were calculated using the2429sunrise and sunset times corresponding to the geographic coordinates of2430each crash.2431    Crashes resulting in vehicle occupant deaths fell 7 percent in the24325 weeks after the time change in the fall and increased 12 percent in2433the 5 weeks after the time change in the spring. The opposite was true2434for crashes resulting in pedestrian or bicyclist deaths. Those crashes2435rose 13 percent in the fall and declined 24 percent in the spring.2436    As mentioned, the net effect was 26 fewer morning and evening2437crashes with pedestrian or bicyclist fatalities per year and 292438additional morning and evening crashes with vehicle occupant2439fatalities.2440    When we looked at the time of day when the crashes occurred and the2441associated light conditions, we found that all of the decrease in2442pedestrian fatalities could be attributed to an increase in the amount2443of light, while only two of the additional crashes resulting in vehicle2444occupant deaths were due to less light.2445    It's unclear why the effect of the time change on vehicle occupant2446fatalities was opposite of the effect on pedestrians. The results2447suggest that unlike the effect on pedestrians, the vehicle occupant2448effect was largely unrelated to light conditions. It's possible that2449factors including driver drowsiness or behavioral changes in response2450to the time changes played a role, but our study did not examine those2451things.2452    It is important to emphasize that our study does not point to a2453preference for standard time or daylight saving time based on road2454safety alone. In addition to the diverging results for different road2455user groups, we should keep in mind that an extra hour of light on one2456end of the workday is counterbalanced by an extra hour of darkness on2457the other end.2458    The clearest takeaway from this research is that there is a strong2459relationship between increased darkness and fatal crashes, particularly2460for pedestrians and bicyclists. This is consistent with previous2461studies, including our own work from 30 years ago examining the effects2462of daylight saving time.\2\2463Improving safety after dark2464    While the clock may not hold the answer to our road safety crisis,2465there are known solutions for protecting pedestrians after dark and for2466reducing the crash toll overall.2467    First of all, we should commit to infrastructure and vehicle2468improvements that have been shown to improve safety for pedestrians and2469bicyclists on different types of roadways in urban, suburban, and rural2470areas. Our research has shown that crosswalk lighting, rectangular2471rapid flashing beacons, and pedestrian hybrid beacons all make drivers2472more likely to yield to pedestrians.\3\,\4\ Improved2473headlights are also key, allowing drivers to detect pedestrians further2474down the roadway. Vehicles with good marks for visibility in IIHS2475headlight evaluations have 23 percent fewer nighttime pedestrian2476crashes than vehicles with poor-visibility headlights.\5\2477    Our work on passenger-vehicle automatic emergency braking that can2478detect and respond to pedestrians shows that this technology cuts2479pedestrian crash rates 27 percent.\6\ In the last few years, automakers2480have been improving the performance of these systems at night in2481response to IIHS tests. Making these systems work better at night is2482key to addressing the three-quarters of pedestrian fatalities that2483occur in dark and low-light conditions.2484    Efforts are also needed to address speed on our roadways. Higher2485vehicle speeds make crashes of all types more likely and more deadly.2486The speed effect on crash severity is more pronounced for pedestrians2487and bicyclists, who don't have a vehicle's structure to protect them.2488In one study of U.S. pedestrian crashes, the average risk of severe2489injury to a pedestrian increased from 10 percent at an impact speed of249017 mph to 25 percent at 25 mph, 50 percent at 33 mph, 75 percent at 412491mph, and 90 percent at 48 mph.\7\2492    Reducing speed limits, especially in areas with high pedestrian2493traffic, is an obvious solution. Enforcement must also play a role, and2494traditional methods can be supplemented by the wider use of speed2495safety cameras. Engineering measures such as curb bulb-outs, multiway2496stop signs, left-turn hardening devices, and roundabouts could be more2497widely deployed to slow vehicles at intersections. Broader adoption of2498intelligent speed assistance in vehicles could change drivers' behavior2499and even their mindset.\8\2500Addressing the larger road safety crisis2501    Such a multipronged strategy to improve pedestrian and bicyclist2502safety at night exemplifies the Safe System approach, which the U.S.2503Department of Transportation has adopted as the ``guiding paradigm'' of2504the National Roadway Safety Strategy.\9\ While the Department should be2505commended for committing to this principle, little progress has been2506made to translate it into action and reverse the Nation's fatality2507trend.2508    We at IIHS are alarmed by the rising toll of crashes on our2509Nation's roads and dismayed by an apparent lack of urgency to fix the2510problem. For this reason, we recently launched an initiative we are2511calling 30x30--a goal to reduce U.S. fatalities 30 percent by 2030.\10\2512Achieving this reduction will require a concerted effort by all2513stakeholders. For our part, IIHS has laid out a series of concrete2514research, testing, and education actions that we are undertaking as2515part of our 5-year strategic plan. We will increase our efforts to2516address risky behaviors, seek opportunities to improve safety for2517everyone inside and outside the vehicle, and explore ways to make the2518country's heavy and light commercial vehicle fleets safer. We ask2519everybody who cares about the needless loss of life on our roads--2520including this Committee--to think about what they can contribute to2521achieving the 30x30 goal.2522References2523    1. Woods, A. N., Weast, R. A., & Monfort, S. S. (2025). Daylight2524saving time and fatal crashes: The impact of changing light conditions.2525Journal of Safety Research, 93, 200-205. https://doi.org/10.1016/2526j.jsr.2025.02.0102527    2. Ferguson, S. A., Preusser, D. F., Lund, A. K., Zador, P. L., &2528Ulmer, R. G. (1995). Daylight saving time and motor vehicle crashes:2529The reduction in pedestrian and vehicle occupant fatalities. American2530Journal of Public Health, 85(1), 92-95. https://doi.org/10.2105/2531ajph.85.1.922532    3. Hu, W., Van Houten, R., Cicchino, J. B., Engle, J., & Al2533Shomaly, L. (2025). Effects of crosswalk illuminators and rectangular2534rapid flashing beacons on speed reductions and yielding to pedestrians2535at night. Transportation Research Record. https://doi.org/10.1177/2536036119812413101312537    4. Avelar, R. E. & Cicchino, J. B. (2024). Factors influencing road2538user behaviors and motivations around pedestrian hybrid beacons and2539rectangular rapid flashing beacons in North Carolina. Insurance2540Institute for Highway Safety. https://www.iihs.org/topics/bibliography/2541ref/23242542    5. Brumbelow, M. L. (2022). Light where it matters: IIHS headlight2543ratings are correlated with nighttime crash rates. Journal of Safety2544Research, 83, 379-387. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2022.09.0132545    6. Cicchino, J. B. (2022). Effects of automatic emergency braking2546systems on pedestrian crash risk.2547    Accident Analysis & Prevention, 172, Article 106686. https://2548doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2022.1066862549    7. Tefft, B. C. (2013). Impact speed and a pedestrian's risk of2550severe injury or death. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 50, 871-878.2551https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2012.07.0222552    8. Reagan, I. (2024, August 13). With the right mindset, speed-2553limiting technology can be liberating. Insurance Institute for Highway2554Safety. https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/with-the-right-mindset-speed-2555limiting-technology-can-be-liberating2556    9. U.S. Department of Transportation. (2025, January 14). What is a2557Safe System Approach? https://www.transportation.gov/safe-system-2558approach2559    10. Harkey, D. (2025, February 20). As Vision Zero hopes fade, a 5-2560year goal can help us reset. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.2561https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/as-vision-zero-hopes-fade-a-5-year-2562goal-can-help-us-reset25632564                STATEMENT OF HON. JOHN CURTIS,2565                     U.S. SENATOR FROM UTAH25662567    Senator Curtis [presiding]. Thank you. You will notice the2568freshmen have taken over this committee.2569    [Laughter.]2570    Senator Curtis. And we have an agenda, don't we? Yes.2571    Listen, I am pleased to be here. John Curtis from Utah, and2572thank you, panel, for this important topic, and I think it is2573fair to say that my constituents share the same frustration2574that has been articulated here by the back and forth.2575    Mr. Yates, you mentioned in your testimony that the only2576reason we still have this time change every 6 months is due to2577the Federal Government's inability to decide between Standard2578or Daylight Savings Time, which one is best. Based on your2579research and your outreach, do you have any indication how many2580states would opt out and maintain permanent Standard Time if2581your proposal for permanent Daylight Savings Time were enacted?2582    Mr. Yates. Thank you, Senator, for the question. I do not2583have a specific answer. I can talk to you about some of the2584conversations that I have had with state legislators,2585including, I do not know if you know Dr. Raymond Ward in Utah.2586    Senator Curtis. Yes. Sure.2587    Mr. Yates. He was the sponsor of the bill there, and he2588thought--and he said, all of his constituents told him that the2589state preferred--that everybody preferred to stay in permanent2590Daylight Time in Utah. Utah might be a case where Standard Time2591might be a good option, and that is why I think the 2-year2592implementation would actually be a great chance for everybody2593in Utah to look at what the sun----2594    Senator Curtis. Well, let me jump. Let us talk about Utah.2595    Mr. Yates. Sure.2596    Senator Curtis. You are correct. They have actually passed2597legislation to stay on permanent Daylight Savings Time. And I2598guess my question is, why should not states have the right to2599make this decision? Don't they know best about what they want2600for their constituents? And you know, why are not we giving2601more accommodation to states, and particularly Utah who has2602spoken so vocally about what they would like?2603    Mr. Yates. I am sorry, Senator, are you asking is there a2604way that the states could opt out of?2605    Senator Curtis. So my point is----2606    Mr. Yates. Yes.2607    Senator Curtis.--states know what is best for them.2608    Mr. Yates. Right?2609    Senator Curtis. Some states, like Utah, clearly have a2610preference, and some would go the other way.2611    Mr. Yates. Yes.2612    Senator Curtis. And I guess my question is, now let me tie2613that into the next question, is we could see a patchwork, which2614I suspect might be the answer to that. Now, Utah, by the way,2615we abut Arizona, and so my whole life we have watched Arizona2616mock us, right, as we all change our times, and somehow we have2617navigated that just fine, right, without any problem. And then2618I would also bring up, the technology is in a very different2619place than it was years ago and our ability to adapt to this.2620    So do you worry about a patchwork, or are we OK with that?2621    Mr. Yates. Thank you for the question, Senator. I think2622that less complexity in the system is better. It is natural to2623think that there would be a patchwork if we allowed more states2624to opt into permanent Standard Time, but we have a patchwork2625now. What we would be creating is less of a patchwork because2626the lines might change a little bit.2627    For instance, Indiana, for instance, may decide that it is2628better for the whole state of Indiana to be in Central Time2629with Chicago, which it abuts and which is a thousand miles from2630Boston. And so it would not create a patchwork, it would just2631create a change in where the line is.2632    And so the first and most important thing is decreasing and2633eliminating the clock changing, which decreases complexity. And2634then once we have got that stability, it will not be a2635patchwork. It will just be we know what time it is in Indiana,2636because of all this.2637    Senator Curtis. Just the way we have accommodated it too,2638with Arizona.2639    Mr. Yates. Exactly.2640    Senator Curtis. Right. And if we are honest we, like your2641point, we already have these lines, and they do just fine with2642that.2643    Mr. Yates. Yes.2644    Senator Curtis. And so, just for the record, I am a strong2645advocate to let my state do what they prefer to do. And feel2646like they know how to make those decisions best.2647    I am going to use just a little bit of time for actually a2648very interesting personal question, Dr. Johnson. Given all the2649effects that we have heard about, what is the likelihood that2650if somebody had a profession where they were moving across the2651country twice a week and changing time zones, an hour, or 22652hours, or sometimes 3 hours, that they would be subject to2653those same problems?2654    Dr. Johnson. So you know, a lot of us can relate to jet2655lag. One thing that happens with jet lag is you are moving to a2656new time where the sun is in the sky. And so we adjust to that2657within a day or two, we get to the new time zone depending on2658how far we are going. What happens with going to permanent2659Daylight Savings Time is we are changing the clock time, but we2660are not changing the sun. That is why there is this perpetual2661misalignment that has more stresses and harms to our body over2662the long run.2663    So very frequent time travel with a lot of adjust is a big2664strain on the body; but for most people that do not do it all2665the time, we do adjust within days, and we can get, you know,2666that better health and more misalignment--or more alignment of2667our rhythms within days.2668    Senator Curtis. Unless, within days, you are going back to2669the previous time zone?2670    Dr. Johnson. That is why they are really frequent, not2671good.2672    Senator Curtis. All right. I think I have made my point. I2673will yield to the Ranking Member.2674    Senator Blunt Rochester. Thank you to my fellow freshman2675and classmate, Senator Curtis. And also thank you to Senator2676Cantwell for the opportunity to be Ranking Member today. And I2677also want to thank the witnesses.2678    You know, this is one of the issues that a lot of times we2679will get messages from our constituents. People have strong2680opinions. And I was literally in a meeting before this with a2681CEO of a company who asked: Well, what do you think? And so2682this is something that does touch on so many.2683    And I want to start my questions with you, Dr. Harkey,2684because year-round Daylight Saving Time would mean later2685sunrises in the mornings, more people may be commuting to work2686or into school in the dark. Some people have raised concerns2687that this would put their children at greater risk of being hit2688by cars while walking to school. Pedestrians are more likely to2689be killed in traffic accidents, as you stated, in the dark,2690because it is harder for the drivers to see them.2691    And in the 1970s, it was widely reported that mothers2692raised significant concerns about their children walking to2693school in the dark in the winter. Nationwide, over 70 percent2694of fatal accidents involving pedestrians occur at night. Dr.2695Harkey, no matter what time the sun goes down, what roadway2696improvements can cities and states make to reduce pedestrian2697fatalities?2698    Dr. Harkey. Thank you for the question, Senator. That is2699exactly what our study indicated is that it is not about the2700shifting of the time. We are going to have darkness regardless2701of which decision you make, which policy decision you make. And2702so that is what we are looking for, is to try and figure out2703how do we make pedestrians and bicyclists, in particular, safer2704in those dark hours, whether they are in the morning or whether2705they are in the evening.2706    And for most municipalities and county agencies and state2707DOTs who are struggling to address this issue, there is two key2708things: One is space, we have to provide the appropriate space,2709sidewalks. In rural areas, that can be separated paths, or2710possibly paved shoulders, even places for people to walk where2711they are not in the edge of the travel lane.2712    We also have to take care to provide careful crossings. So2713we have to pay particular attention to how we are allowing2714motor vehicles and pedestrians to interact at crosswalks. These2715can be at intersections. They can be at midblock locations. So2716you have to have appropriate crossings. Pedestrians are not2717going to walk too far. They are going to make those decisions2718to cross in the middle of the road sometimes, and so you want2719to make sure that you are providing adequate crossings where2720they want to cross.2721    And then you have got to do all you can to provide the2722kinds of traffic control devices that will increase motorist2723yielding behavior. So this includes things like rapid flash2724beacons, which have been shown to increase motorist yielding2725behavior six-fold. You can build on that. Adding simple things2726like lights that are triggered when a pedestrian hits the2727crosswalk area. It will light up that crosswalk. You can double2728the amount of motorist yielding behavior.2729    So these are interventions that have been proven over time,2730and it is important for state agencies and local agencies to2731take advantage of those kinds of interventions and get those2732implemented anywhere that they have pedestrians.2733    Senator Blunt Rochester. Following along on the safety2734theme, what vehicle technologies can help protect pedestrians2735when it is difficult for drivers to see them?2736    Dr. Harkey. Yes. And so this is another important aspect,2737and this is what builds on the safe system approach, right,2738building that redundancy into the systems. You do not just rely2739on the infrastructure; you also build technology into vehicles2740that can help with this.2741    Two big things that we have studied, one is better2742headlights. We are the only group in the world that test2743headlights the way that we do on our track, and so we have seen2744improvements in headlights over the years that increase2745visibility and provide drivers with additional time. They can2746see that pedestrian further down the roadway. And so that is a2747big change, and we will continue to push for that.2748    The other is automatic emergency braking with pedestrian2749detection, that also has been shown to work and be very2750effective at reducing pedestrian crashes in the daytime, and2751now our testing is really focused on getting automakers to2752improve those systems to work even better at nighttime, so that2753is an example of two technologies in the vehicle that can be2754really, really beneficial.2755    Senator Blunt Rochester. You know, one of the things that I2756have noticed is that our safety efforts are siloed. You have2757the Federal Highway Administration, which builds and maintains2758highways, you have the National Highway Traffic Safety2759Administration, which regulates vehicle safety standards and2760investigates defects, then you have got the Federal Motor2761Carrier Safety Administration, which oversees commercial motor2762vehicles and trucking industry safety all kind of working2763separately.2764    And I think back to what you were talking about, about kind2765of--how can we better layer safety measures to help stop deadly2766crashes?2767    Dr. Harkey. Yes. You are absolutely right. And so build on2768top the separation and the Federal agencies that you just2769discussed, along with them, you have state DOTs, you have2770county DOTs, you have city DOTs, and so it becomes quite the2771web of how you make decisions when it comes to road safety.2772    One of the things that we have to do a better job of is2773communicating between those agencies, deliberately. And so2774there is no single authority of the ones that you mentioned2775that has complete authority over every decision on our roadway2776system when it comes to safety. And so these agencies have to2777do a better job of communicating together deliberately, and not2778just at the executive level, but at the staff level, because it2779is at the staff level where people know what interventions work2780best and how to apply those in a way that you create that2781redundancy in the system that we were talking about.2782    So whether it is infrastructure, whether it is vehicle,2783whether it is changing behaviors, that communication amongst2784the staff is absolutely critical.2785    Senator Blunt Rochester. Great. Thank you. And I was really2786interested to hear about your 30x30. So in the interest of2787time, I will yield back to the Chairman.2788    The Chairman. Thank you very much, and I want to thank each2789of the witnesses for being here on what is a very interesting2790topic, and important topic, and complex topic. There are very2791real and complicated issues and countervailing arguments on2792both sides. I think there is widespread agreement on locking2793the clock, but where to lock it, the reason we are holding2794these hearings is because these are real arguments, and they2795have real impacts on people.2796    Let me start on the health side. Dr. Johnson, can you2797expand on the impact sleep deprivation has on our overall2798health, on our minds, our moods, and especially on young2799children, for whom we know sleep is so vital?2800    Dr. Johnson. Thank you for asking about that. Yes, sleep2801comes--you know, has different aspects. So one is just how much2802we sleep, but it is the quality of sleep, and then the timing2803of sleep, so any disturbance in that can affect how we do. So2804we know that kids, even if over a whole week they get enough2805sleep, if they do not get enough during the week and catch up2806on the weekend, they still do not do as well.2807    And so sleep and our circadian rhythms, they really2808regulate every aspect of our body, our metabolism. They affect2809how we think about things, they affect our choices of food. You2810are more likely to grab a celery stick when you have got enough2811sleep, but grab that bagel or that candy bar when you are2812sleep-deprived.2813    Athletic performance, we know, is better when people do2814sleep, academic success in school. And then mental health has2815some of the most, deep connections to sleep health. And that is2816why even though people, you know, feel better when they see2817light, it is that timing of light and our circadian rhythms2818that is so deeply intertwined that if we can improve sleep, if2819we can improve those rhythms, we see those lower rates of2820depression overall. We see lower rates of suicide.2821    And that is what the data, there was just a new study that2822came out just last week showing 6 percent higher rates of2823depression when the sunrises are set later, when we lose that2824critical morning light. And this gets exponentially worse in2825the winter when you lose the--you know, the light in the2826morning.2827    So Texas and the southern states actually lose that morning2828light for a longer period because of the curve of the Earth the2829more even days. You get three to 4 months with it being dark2830after 8 a.m., and some of the darkest places in the country are2831actually in western Texas if we were to go to permanent2832Daylight Savings Time.2833    And that is why in 1974, a lot of the push to end our2834experiment with Daylight Savings Time was actually pushed by2835states like Florida, and Texas, and the southern states.2836    The Chairman. Can you also explain why consistent sleep2837patterns are important for teen brain development and mental2838health?2839    Dr. Johnson. Yes. So again, this goes back to our circadian2840rhythms, and so better--so when our circadian rhythms are2841working well, they help us anticipate our day. And so what I2842mean by that is we have certain times when our body wants to go2843to sleep, and so teenagers, their natural rhythm is later. If2844any of you have been around a teenager, you cannot just say: Go2845to bed, you know, they are like: I am wide awake.2846    We have this, what we call, a forbidden zone, their2847alertness just is skyrocketing in that time before bed. And so2848they cannot get to sleep on time. But if our social schedule is2849set an hour earlier, which is what Daylight Savings Time does,2850they do not have that opportunity to get the amount of sleep2851they need. And they tend to switch back and forth on weekends,2852and that switching affects us.2853    And so that then affects how our brain functions. We know2854more and more about sleep being important for clearing toxins2855from our brain, which sets us up for things like dementia,2856Parkinson's disease. I just came back from the neuro conference2857with data pointing to, you know, the connections there. Our2858metabolism gets off, so we are more likely to gain weight.2859Again, even if people do exercise more, we see, like, 102860percent higher rates of obesity in places where the sun sets2861later.2862    So sleep is so critically important for our metabolic2863health, our overall health, our mental health, how our brain2864functions, which affects the safety issues. You know, the2865highway study, it found a higher risk of vehicle crashes even2866though it was light later, the effect of sleep is more powerful2867than almost anything else, and by aligning the sun we can2868really help that.2869    The Chairman. So let us talk a little bit about the idea of2870states' rights. And I have heard from groups on both sides of2871this issue that want either permanent Standard Time or2872permanent Daylight Savings Time. Almost everyone agrees that2873changing the clock twice a year does not make sense.2874    Mr. Yates, in your opening statement, you said that setting2875the clock is fundamentally a states' rights issue. Why do you2876think that decision should be left to the states?2877    Mr. Yates. Thank you for the question, Senator. The main2878reason is geography, right. Like, we live on this big round2879ball, and the sun is moving, and the difference in where each2880state is makes a big difference in how the sunrise and sunset2881time applies. And so to say that there is one solution that is2882exactly right for, you know, Texas, and the exact same solution2883is right for Atlanta, for Georgia is, what I would posit,2884overreach by the Federal Government.2885    And I might even go back to the example that is often cited2886about when the time change happened in the 1970s, and just to2887give a little context to why that was so--why that was such a2888failure, it is often cited that people did not like it because2889there were children that were put at risk in the dark waiting2890for school. It turns out, a lot of that is apocryphal, as we2891have heard, pedestrians are much safer with more light later in2892the day.2893    But the thing that is interesting about that time change2894was, and this shows you how different politics was back in2895those days, that law was signed into law on December 15, 1973,2896right in the middle of Watergate. You could say that maybe it2897was a distraction from other things that were going on, but it2898was enacted on December 15th, on a Saturday.2899    It was enacted--it took place on January 6, 1974, about2900three weeks later. So you can imagine, the worst Monday of the2901year already is the one after the holiday break, where you have2902to go back to school and everything, to have an extra hour of2903sleep robbed away right before that, you can understand why it2904was so unpopular and why it was repealed two months after Nixon2905resigned office.2906    So it clearly does not work for the Federal Government to2907come and say this is a mandate of exactly what we should do for2908all of the country all at the same time. But it is the place of2909the Commerce Committee to say we need a well-regulated time2910system.2911    And so it makes sense to get rid of the clock changing, and2912if we give 2 years to the states to be able to say, so that all2913of these arguments can be hashed out, and they are all valid2914arguments, but they can be hashed out in the geography of the2915place where it would actually apply. And they would have time2916to plan and figure out what is the appropriate time for school2917to start, to take in this evidence from neurologists, and what2918is the best time for all of the businesses to operate.2919    The Chairman. So maybe if we had more daylight, the2920Watergate break-in does not happen, and history would be2921different.2922    Dr. Johnson, you seem to disagree with having states decide2923on how they should lock the clock. In your judgment, why do you2924think that would be the wrong approach?2925    Dr. Johnson. So time is a measure. So Congress has the2926control over setting measures. I think of my husband, he likes2927to make a joke: He is 6'6'' in the morning and 6'5'' in the2928afternoon. We do not change the length of a foot on his diurnal2929pattern of his height. Time is supposed to say, you know, how2930the sun is moving through the sky.2931    And so if we set it to a Standard Time of the sun being2932closer to overhead at noon, now that is something we can go by,2933but states then can decide how they want to set their social2934schedules. So instead of sort of tricking people into, you2935know: You all have to get up early no matter what; let us have2936each state decide when they want their schools to start, when2937businesses want to start, but let us fix a measure of time that2938actually has a meaning, where the sun is overhead, and then2939adjust, you know, the social schedule around it. And that is2940definitely something the states should decide on.2941    The Chairman. Thank you. Senator Lujan.29422943               STATEMENT OF HON. BEN RAY LUJAN,2944                  U.S. SENATOR FROM NEW MEXICO29452946    Senator Lujan. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you all for2947being here today.2948    Dr. Johnson, thank you for joining us today. I saw that the2949American Academy of Neurology sent the Committee a letter2950encouraging us to consider that Standard Time, not Daylight2951Savings Time, is the best to align with our body's natural2952clocks. Many people still sleep through the morning light or2953after the early sunrises. Does that mean that light is being2954wasted if they are not using it awake?2955    Dr. Johnson. So light helps us get up. You know, most2956people will wake up naturally after light. Now, some people, my2957teenagers, could easily sleep until noon, and that makes them2958actually more likely to shift their schedules even later. So2959when you miss morning light, which is needed to reset your2960rhythm, or if you get too much light in the evenings, you drift2961later and have even more trouble getting up in the morning.2962    And so that is why, if we actually set it so the sun is2963rising earlier in the morning, more people will actually,2964naturally, because their circadian rhythms start saying, ``get2965up on time'' rather than ``get up so late'', will be able to be2966ready for the day, be able to have their circadian rhythms help2967their health, help their metabolism which is good--going to be2968good for heart disease, stroke risk, dementia risk, all these2969other sort of chronic health problems.2970    Senator Lujan. I appreciate that. To all the panelists,2971what does this mean for New Mexico, for our farmers, school2972children and teenagers, the elderly, workers, and tourism, and2973recreation? What would permanent daylight Standard Time or2974permanent Standard Time mean for these communities? One or the2975other, I apologize, not an ``or''? Mr. Yates?2976    Mr. Yates. Senator, thank you for the question. New Mexico2977is another real leader in early movements to try to lock the2978clock. Senator Cliff Pirtle--State Senator Cliff Pirtle worked2979on this. I worked with him closely for a long time. The effects2980on everybody in New Mexico of the clock changing is the same,2981which is, it is very disruptive, it is not disruptive equally2982for everybody, but for a lot of people, it is. A lot of--you2983know, all the things that we have cited, all the different2984health studies show that.2985    The thing that I have been advocating today about the two-2986year implementation period would be especially helpful for New2987Mexico because you have a tricky little trade region where you2988abut West Texas, which is in the Mountain Time Zone, and part2989of Mexico. And so there is a region where interstate commerce2990is directly affected.2991    And so all of Mexico recently decided to lock the clock,2992except for the part that is attached to West Texas and New2993Mexico, and so these issues of commerce are complicated and do2994take a little while to work out. So that is the one thing I2995would say, is that that sort of thing should be addressed2996carefully.2997    Senator Lujan. Mr. Karen.2998    Mr. Karen. I would say that the golf courses in New Mexico,2999which enjoy mostly afternoon and evening light, all the great3000hiking that goes on in New Mexico, the rock climbing, the hot3001air ballooning, all of that would be seriously curbed if3002Daylight Saving Time was removed. And that would be, I think, a3003detriment to the New Mexico economy and people's time and3004ability to get outside and enjoy what you have.3005    Senator Lujan. You are suggesting that people hike and golf3006in the morning?3007    Mr. Karen. No, they do all that in the afternoon. And if3008Standard Time was made permanent, they would feel forced to do3009it in the morning. But they have to go to school. They have to3010go to work. And I do not think they would be able to make that3011shift.3012    Senator Lujan. I appreciate that. Dr. Johnson.3013    Dr. Johnson. Yes. I would say, if anything, you know, you3014have a neighboring state, Arizona, that does very well on3015Standard Time and has shown that the golf industry can thrive.3016If anything, a lot of people say, and one of the reasons3017Arizona says they stayed on Standard Time, is because it gets3018too hot later. So a lot of people do like to do exercise later,3019and that often is actually a better time for our health to get3020our exercise in. So if we can get people up so that they can be3021more active in the morning and get this exercise and enjoy all3022the wonderful things like hiking, which I know, when I have3023gone to places like New Mexico, I do in the morning you know, I3024think that we can still have all these activities on either3025time, but I think Standard Time is the healthier choice.3026    Senator Lujan. Dr. Harkey.3027    Dr. Harkey. So our work was looking at fatality data3028nationally rather than by individual states, in part due to3029sample size. But if the patterns hold in New Mexico, just like3030they have in our research across the country, then we are going3031to see an offset between the number of motor vehicle occupant3032deaths that have risen slightly during the time change periods,3033and pedestrian and bicyclist deaths that have decreased3034slightly during that same time period.3035    And so the net effect is one of really no change when we3036look at road safety data alone. And so if you are trying to3037make this decision on the basis of just road safety, I do not3038think the results of our study are going to point you in one3039direction or the other.3040    Senator Lujan. As a follow up to that, Dr. Harkey, Dr.3041Johnson pointed to a study from a professor at Eastern New3042Mexico University, Jeff Gentry, who showed 20 percent higher3043car crashes in locations where sunrises and sunsets are later.3044Now, I understand your point that darkness is a key measure of3045accidents, but this data shows me that sleep effects are3046powerful indicators as well. How do you view the risk of sleep3047deprivation on accidents versus risks from darkness?3048    Dr. Harkey. So our study did not look specifically at that3049particular issue. I know other studies have, methodologies3050differ. Most of the studies that have tried to look strictly at3051that small amount of time change before and after in the3052crashes concur that the real issue here is the amount of3053ambient light and the time of day when it occurs. That darkness3054is the real key, and you just need to make sure that you are3055providing good safety interventions to address issues of3056darkness.3057    So whether that is improving technologies in the vehicles3058such as headlights, automatic emergency braking, or whether you3059are putting in infrastructure measures that add more lighting,3060add more space for pedestrians and bicyclists to keep them3061separated from motorists, whatever you can do to reduce those3062conflicts in the darkness and improve awareness of other road3063users in the darkness, will be beneficial----3064    Senator Lujan. Appreciate that.3065    Dr. Harkey.--regardless of the time change.3066    Senator Lujan. It sounds like you support my legislation to3067require technology be installed in vehicles to prevent impaired3068crashes, so I will take that as well. We will share that with3069my colleagues.3070    Mr. Chairman, I have one more question for Mr. Yates on3071Standard Time versus Daylight Savings. I will submit it into3072the record.3073    And just a note to the panelists, the reason I am asking so3074much about sleep is, as my colleagues know, I suffered a stroke30753 years ago. I have learned a lot about the importance of3076sleep. I definitely lived my life burning the candle at both3077ends, and now I do my due diligence to embrace sleep hygiene3078and all the rest. And so that is bearing a lot into this3079conversation that I am having with my constituents and others.3080    Mr. Chairman, I very much appreciate this hearing, though.3081Thank you all for being here.3082    The Chairman. Thank you, Senator Young.30833084                 STATEMENT OF HON. TODD YOUNG,3085                   U.S. SENATOR FROM INDIANA30863087    Senator Young. Well, I thank all of you for being here. I3088am the senior senator from the state of Indiana, and we have3089quite a history with Daylight Savings Time. For those of you3090who have consumed old ``Parks and Rec'' episodes, you may have3091seen the one that focused on this particular topic.3092    But let me walk through some of the things that have3093transpired in our state, and I will weave in there some of the3094unique perspectives that Hoosiers have brought to this. Until30952006, our state was chronologically divided, you might say,3096with some counties observing Daylight Savings Time and others3097not. And then in 2006, after years of debate, furious debate,3098our state decided to become the 48th state to adopt Daylight3099Savings Time.3100    In central Indiana, on the shortest day of the year,3101December 21, the sun currently rises at 8:02 a.m. and sets at31025:23 p.m. Under permanent Daylight Savings Time, sunrise would3103be delayed until 9:02 a.m., meaning Hoosiers would begin their3104day in darkness for much of the winter.3105    What works for East Coast states, I am hearing from many of3106my constituents, might not work for states like Indiana. We3107have 12 counties in the western part of the state that are in3108the Central Time Zone. So Evansville, Indiana, if you are3109familiar with that, you have got up near Chicago what we call3110``the Region'' affectionately, and there are 80 other counties3111that are in the Eastern Time Zone.3112    So you know, this sort of suggests that maybe a one-size-3113fits-all national policy on time changes does not take into3114account the regional differences that significantly impact3115daily life. I understand we have a charge, Article I, Section31168, to facilitate interstate commerce. It was one of the major3117arguments of facilitating interstate commerce from the state3118level when we had this debate. So I anticipate we have heard3119that. I anticipate I will hear more of that from my colleagues,3120but that has to be balanced against other considerations, of3121course.3122    Leaving this decision to the states might allow local3123leaders, who best understand their communities, to weigh the3124specific needs of their residents, states along this line of3125argument, are in a better position to evaluate how changes in3126daylight hours affect school schedules, commuting patterns,3127public safety, and economic activity.3128    So I guess to the panel, do you believe that states like3129Indiana, with their unique cultures, and geographical3130challenges, and even histories as it relates to this issue,3131should have the flexibility to make their own decision, or do3132you think this decision should be standardized across the3133country?3134    We will begin with Mr. Yates, and I will give everyone an3135opportunity to speak to that, if you like. Yes, sir.3136    Mr. Yates. Thank you, Senator Young, for the question. And3137I mentioned Indiana in my opening statement because it is a3138perfect example of why the Commerce Committee needs to approach3139this carefully. Because to impose onto Indiana a solution that3140is the same as for New York and for New England is not in the3141best interest of the people of Indiana and is a little bit3142rude.3143    The one thing that I might say, though, is that I have3144never been to Indiana to testify, but I did go to Michigan to3145testify about their Daylight Saving Time bill. And I went to3146Nebraska and to Kansas, which are states like Indiana on the3147western edge of their time zones and would make the most sense3148for them to be in Standard Time.3149    And I advocated for that with the state senators and state3150representatives in those states. And all of them told me that3151all of their constituents do not care. They would rather, like3152they are in the middle of the winter, they are already going to3153school and, right, going to work in the dark, and they would3154just like to have a little bit of time after school and after3155work to be in the light. So I said, OK, this is your state.3156    Senator Young. All right.3157    Mr. Yates. You get to pick.3158    Senator Young. Thank you. Thank you for your response.3159    Mr. Karen.3160    Mr. Karen. Well, I am no constitutional scholar, for sure,3161but I do not see in the Constitution where it says that the3162Federal Government regulates time. I do not know if time falls3163under Commerce. So it would naturally fall to the states if the3164Federal Government is not empowered to do so.3165    The Chairman. We have the view that everything falls under3166Commerce.3167    [Laughter.]3168    Mr. Karen. I appreciate that. I will say, you know, I feel3169it is less of a state issue than it feels like a personal3170issue. And the ability to do, for example, to Senator Lujan's3171comments, I can simulate or practice sleep hygiene whether the3172sun is up or down. But I cannot simulate sun hygiene. I cannot3173light the world when we want to be out there when it is dark,3174right.3175    And so I think, to me it comes down to which choice, if you3176were to land on one, is going to be harder to adjust to. We are3177already on Daylight Saving Time for 8 months, so we would have3178to adjust for 4 months. If you reverse it, then we are3179adjusting 8 months of our calendar.3180    Senator Young. Thank you, sir. Dr. Johnson, would you like3181to say something about this?3182    Dr. Johnson. Yes. I want to talk about the western edge of3183time zones. States like yours are more aligned with Central3184Time Zones. So already on Standard Time, your sun is going to3185be overhead closer to 1. When we go to Daylight Savings Time,3186now it is closer to 2. And we see that this really impacts3187health risks, mental health risks, safety risks, how kids do in3188school.3189    I want to highlight one Indiana study. When you guys ended3190going to the parts of the state that were on Standard Time----3191    Senator Young. Wait, you are coming with a study? You are3192citing a study? Are we allowed to do that in this--is that3193consistent with the rules, Chairman Cruz? I am kidding, of3194course.3195    Dr. Johnson. So when part of Indiana ended Standard Time3196and went to seasonal Daylight Savings Time, they found that3197kids' high school test scores were actually much better when3198they were on Standard Time and dropped when they switched to3199even seasonal Daylight Savings Time. And that is not adding the3200exponential harms of bringing those 9 a.m. sunrises, like you3201said.3202    So we would love every place to be more in line with the3203sun. And as you said, states have different needs, you know,3204needs to get closer to that idea.3205    Senator Young. Thank you, Doctor.3206    Dr. Harkey.3207    Dr. Harkey. So we did not have a preference in our study3208for one time or the other in terms of how you set it. What our3209study showed was that the risk of fatalities for pedestrians3210and bicyclists in particular rises at night, and it rises for3211all motorists as well at night.3212    So the real key is, regardless of which decision you make3213and which time zone you use, you have got to make sure that you3214are putting interventions in that is going to help with those3215who are traveling in those dark hours, whether it is more in3216the morning or more in the afternoon and evening, that is the3217real key, and particularly for pedestrians and bicyclists, who3218are the overwhelming number of fatalities that are occurring in3219those dark hours.3220    Senator Young. I see. I am very much over time.3221    I see that Mr. Karen has something he wants to say, so I3222have been given leave by the Chairman. Please, go ahead.3223    Mr. Karen. I just want to point out that Senator Scott's3224bill, the Sunshine Protection Act, kind of threads the needle.3225It creates a Federal Daylight Saving Time but allows every3226state to opt out if they choose. So I think that is maybe the3227best answer here.3228    Senator Young. Good point. All right.3229    Thank you, Chairman.3230    The Chairman. Thank you, Senator Markey.32313232               STATEMENT OF HON. EDWARD MARKEY,3233                U.S. SENATOR FROM MASSACHUSETTS32343235    Senator Markey. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, very much. So3236it is 1985. It is my fifth term in the U.S. House of3237Representatives, and I become the Chairman of the Energy3238Subcommittee on the Energy and Commerce Committee. And3239searching through the jurisdiction of this wonderful3240subcommittee is, time. I guess somebody is going to have to be3241Chairman over time. And it is me. I am Chairman of time.3242    And nothing had been driving me crazier than the birds3243chirping, you know, at 5 a.m. in the morning. It is sunshine3244out. It is the end of April. This is not good. So I began a3245negotiation with Bill Goodling, who is a Republican from3246Pennsylvania, to move time. And it was a hard, grudging3247discussion, but I was able to move it from the end of April to3248the beginning of April in 1986. And so that changed it, because3249at that point it was 6 months daylight, 6 months standard.3250    So I was able to claw back three weeks, pretty much to3251right now. Otherwise, we would still be another two or 3 weeks3252where there is no Daylight Savings Time. Then Congressman3253Goodling left, and so in 2005 I am still on the Energy3254Subcommittee. So with Fred Upton, who is a Republican from3255Michigan, we cut another deal, and we moved it to the beginning3256of March. And we also said, let us put Halloween in Daylight3257Savings Time, and so we moved it into the beginning of3258November.3259    So at that point, I am at 8 Daylight, 4 Standard. OK. So I3260am kind of proud of my two bills Changing Time. You know, they3261started to call me the Sun King, which I was kind of proud of,3262because those are big bills, Mr. Chairman, that is moving time,3263and the whole world then starts to move to that standard.3264    So we had to stop there. And then two years ago, Senator3265Rubio and I, we had a bill to do Daylight Savings Time year-3266round, and it passed by unanimous consent out on the floor of3267the Senate. It was then stalled in the House, never had a vote3268over there. But I consider this kind of an inexorable march3269toward more sunshine that people can enjoy, not while they are3270asleep, you know, having the sun come in early in the morning.3271    So that is my goal. My goal is just to make sure people get3272more sunshine in the evening, when they can use it, especially,3273as I heard your opening statement, Mr. Chairman, as our economy3274has changed, and we are not an agricultural-predominant economy3275any longer, although farmers play a vital role in our society,3276but we are more into the economy that we all live in today.3277    So I guess my first question, Mr. Karen, is how would3278extending evening daylight support small businesses in your3279industry?3280    Mr. Karen. It would add to the golf industry at least $13281billion of economic activity. The average golf course would see3282an increase in approximately $250,000 in revenue. And I mean,3283that is an economic argument. But the golfers around America,3284the 30 million golfers would get to enjoy all of that. So that3285is the argument.3286    Senator Markey. Right. But it is also true that, let us3287just go back to 1986, it is hard to start your Little League3288practices if it is still dark in the evening at the end of3289April. The kids are still not going to be allowed out into the3290dark, or you are playing tennis or walking around. So that3291change was very important to us in 1986.3292    Mr. Karen. Yes. Yes.3293    Senator Markey. And then again in 2009?3294    Mr. Karen. My brother happens to be an athletic director at3295a high school, and he said: We do not like having to spend3296money on lights for every single activity that happens after3297school.3298    Senator Markey. Yes. So would an additional hour of evening3299sunlight help businesses save money on energy costs from not3300having to turn the lights on early, much less athletic?3301    Mr. Karen. Well golf, we do not light the golf courses, so3302it would not be an energy savings for us. It is mostly about3303health and economic.3304    Senator Markey. Health and economic, yes.3305    And Mr. Yates, what does your research say about the3306benefits of ending the switch twice a year between Daylight3307Savings Time and Standard Time?3308    Mr. Yates. Thank you, Senator, for the question. And I3309appreciate the nickname that you got. It is better than the3310nickname that the Comedy Central, the ``Daily Show'' called me3311the Time Wizard, and so I was--I was not sure if I should be3312offended or not3313    Senator Markey. I am going to keep Sun King for myself. OK.3314    Mr. Yates. Sun King is way better than Time Wizard, right.3315    Senator Markey. Yes. And I like that title.3316    Mr. Yates. Yes.3317    Senator Markey. Yes.3318    Mr. Yates. The detrimental effects of switching the clocks3319are super clear, and it seems like we have got pretty much3320unanimous agreement about that at this point. And what is3321delightful about it from my perspective is to hear you tell3322these stories, because you clearly have been a pioneer on this3323for a long time. And what is great is that this has never been3324at all a partisan issue. It has always been a completely3325bipartisan issue, when you look at the 24 states that have3326enacted something to it.3327    Senator Markey. Can I say this as well? And opposition, it3328has always been bipartisan.3329    Mr. Yates. Yes.3330    Senator Markey. Because I had to negotiate with3331Representative Goodling, who is a Republican, you know, on the3332other side. But I had Republican, Carlos Morehead from Orange3333County was on my side, a Republican, and I had to negotiate3334with Larry Craig, who was the Senator from Idaho. He was the3335Senator before Jim Risch. So I had to negotiate with him on3336this. He was in opposition. But I had Fred Upton from Michigan,3337who was a supporter.3338    So it has always been bipartisan on either side, you know,3339these coalitions that are there. And so that is the only way,3340from my perspective, that we are going to be able to work here3341as well in order to make some progress. And you know, it is--we3342just have to make Daylight Saving Time permanent, in my3343opinion, one way or the other, or at least get more, we need3344more sunshine, you know.3345    And the reason, Mr. Chairman, it is from my perspective, it3346just--when the sun is out, it just increases the likelihood3347that the corners of people's mouths are going to be turned3348upwards. They are going to be happier when the sun is out. They3349are going to be feeling good. It is why so many people move to3350Texas, by the way, and not Florida.3351    [Laughter.]3352    Senator Markey. It is not the politics; it is the sun they3353are chasing, right. So this is, from my perspective, a3354universal feeling, right, that when that sun is out and they3355can go out and enjoy it in the evening, it just makes all the3356difference in the world to them, and so we have to find a way3357here of resolving these issues to be able to deal with it.3358    And I know there are disagreements on it, including, I know3359Karin Johnson is here from Massachusetts, and she is on the3360other side of the issue, which I respect. So it is just a big3361conversation that I hope we can resolve, because I just think3362it is for the benefit of people's happiness just to have that3363sunshine available. They can do a lot more in the sunshine in3364the evening than they can do early in the morning.3365    And I thank you, Mr. Chairman, for the opportunity here.3366    The Chairman. Thank you, Your Majesty.3367    [Laughter.]3368    The Chairman. And I will say, I did not know that my friend3369from Massachusetts had acquired the nickname the ``Sun King,''3370which, the previous Sun King, of course, was King Louis XIV in3371France, whose best-known statement was ``L'etat, c'est moi'' I3372am the state, which may explain the differences between Senator3373Markey and myself on the size of government.3374    Senator Markey. Well, I think President Trump is quoting3375King Louis very favorably.3376    The Chairman. That is a fair point, since he did, in fact,3377tweet out ``L'etat, c'est moi.''3378    Senator Markey. I think I did--I saw, I did not know he3379knew French, but I think he, in fact did--in fact, quote3380favorably not even--as you are. You are doing it with a very3381high risible coefficient, I mean, you are doing it jokingly. I3382think he was serious.3383    The Chairman. Well----3384    Senator Markey. Although, I will say this: I think you gave3385the President good advice two days ago acting. We will call it3386more like King Louis then.3387    The Chairman. Well, I will note, as you know, I lived three3388years in Massachusetts, and I remember my third year of law3389school, where it snowed in the month of May, which I thought3390was positively immoral. And as you noted, the sun is a very3391good recruiter for the Great State of Texas. I am fond of3392saying, you cannot shovel sunshine, and that is a gift.3393    Senator Markey. And I will give you some news that the3394winters in Boston are now 6 degrees warmer than they were in33951970 because of climate change. So our ponds do not even freeze3396over in the winter anymore, much less snowing in May. So maybe3397kids from Texas going to law school up in Boston now enjoy May3398a lot more than they used to.3399    The Chairman. All right. So I am going to ask a couple more3400questions, then we are going to wrap up the hearing.3401    Mr. Karen, give us your best argument why recreational3402daylight is so important to your members?3403    Mr. Karen. My members deliver joy for a living, and they3404happen to run businesses making that happen. So to them, if3405they saw more people in the afternoons and the evenings3406enjoying the outdoors with each other, it is why they get out3407of bed. It is why they do this. So they will have better lives3408as business owners. They will be able to pay the bills a little3409bit better and reinvest in their businesses if they had a3410little bit of a boost more in the afternoons and evenings.3411    The Chairman. That was helpful. Although I will say, on the3412delivering joy, I could not help but think of, I think, the3413best comedy riff ever done, which is Robin Williams' on golf.3414    Senator Markey. I have seen it.3415    The Chairman. Which I will note is profane but screamingly3416funny. And he points out that golf was invented by the Scots3417and how infuriating it can be at times. And he said: ``I know,3418we will call it a stroke, because when you miss, you want to3419have a stroke.''3420    [Laughter.]3421    Mr. Karen. Very good.3422    The Chairman. All right, Dr. Johnson.3423    [Laughter.]3424    The Chairman. Would shifting time zones slightly address3425the concerns for communities that are in dark zone areas if the3426clock were permanently set on Daylight Saving Time, does3427shifting the time zones make a difference?3428    Dr. Johnson. So we would encourage all states to be within3429their sort of time zone that is closest to the sun being3430overhead at noon. So, for example, like Indiana being more in3431the Central Time Zone versus the Eastern Time Zone would help3432get them more aligned with the sun. But it should be Standard3433Time. So there has been a push on the East Coast to have us in3434Atlantic Standard Time. That is the time set for Bermuda. That3435is not the time set for any of the East Coast.3436    So you know, we want permanent standard Eastern Time, not3437permanent standard Atlantic Time, which is the exact same as3438permanent Daylight Saving Time.3439    The Chairman. Dr. Harkey, what has your research found as3440it relates to traffic accidents immediately following a time3441change?3442    Dr. Harkey. So that is what we were looking at as part of3443our research, was in that 5-week period before and the 5-week3444period after the time change. And when we fall back in the3445fall, vehicle occupant deaths go down about 7 percent. And when3446they spring forward, vehicle occupants' deaths go up about 123447percent, and the exact opposite with pedestrian fatalities.3448    So when we fall back pedestrian fatalities rise 13 percent,3449and then when we spring forward, they go down 24 percent. And3450so the net effect is almost zero between pedestrian and3451vehicle--pedestrian, bicyclists, and vehicle deaths. And so3452that is why our research really does not come out strongly in3453favor of either one.3454    But what is clear is that darkness matters. And that is3455where we do about a quarter of our travel at night, and yet3456that is when 50 percent of the vehicle occupant deaths occur,3457and when more than three-quarters of the pedestrian deaths3458occur. So regardless of what policy decision is made with3459regards to the time and where we set the clocks, we have to3460make sure we are continuing to improve our infrastructure,3461continuing to improve vehicle technology that will address the3462safety risk that we have at night in dark conditions.3463    The Chairman. So you just said darkness mattered, and it3464occurred to me, an alternative title for this hearing, instead3465of ``If We Could Turn Back Time,'' might have been ``Hello3466Darkness, My Old Friend.''3467    All right. Look, this hearing was important, and I wanted3468to hear all this testimony, because I personally struggle with3469the two choices here. Because it is a question of: what do you3470care about more sunshine, and joy, and fun, and money, or3471health, mental health, physical health? And the honest answer3472for most people is, ``Gosh, I care about all that stuff. So3473that is not an easy tradeoff.3474    The alternative that has been suggested is, let each state3475make that decision. And I guess it has been pointed out that3476Senator Scott's Bill does a version of that by picking Daylight3477Saving Time but then letting states opt out.3478    Let me ask a practical matter: Does that work?3479Functionally, how confusing is that, having everyone pick3480different times, how does that work for commerce, for life, for3481knowing what the hell time it is? Let me have each of you3482answer that.3483    Mr. Yates. Senator Cruz, thank you for that. The one little3484part of Senator Markey's history about when they changed the3485time in November was that the proposal was to move Daylight3486Saving Time to finish at the end of November. And the airlines3487came back and said: No, no, no, no. We do not want a time3488change in the middle of our busiest travel season. And so they3489were going to scrap that, and then they got the extra week to3490put it in.3491    So time is always complicated. And the system that we have,3492the system that we--excuse me--the system that we have is3493complicated, but it is complicated because it is a human3494creation, right. The sun moving around the Earth does not3495actually have anything to do with time. Time is the agreement3496that we have about what 10 o'clock means, because we do not3497want to go around saying, you know, the Committee hearing will3498start when the sun is two hands above the horizon.3499    We need this system. But the system has this bug right now,3500and the bug is Daylight Saving Time. It is the switching of the3501clocks. And so if we have a little bit of time, a couple of3502years, so that the individual states can address all of these3503complexities and make those decisions, then we will be able to3504get rid of this bug permanently. It is something that we have3505been stuck with since World War I, and this is our opportunity3506to finally fix it.3507    The Chairman. Mr. Karen.3508    Mr. Karen. You know, I am not going to say that government3509solutions cause more confusion, but you can imagine in this3510scenario that Florida is on Daylight Saving Time, Georgia right3511above it on Standard, South Carolina is on daylight, et cetera,3512in the same spot, because maybe special interests of all kinds3513made that happen.3514    So I already have problems remembering which state is in3515which time zone as it is right now, sometimes the Border3516States, and add to that: Oh, they are in Central and they are3517on Standard. Oh, what time is it there exactly? So I can see3518where this causes more confusion. I wish I had a better answer3519for you on that one, but could we adjust and figure that out3520quickly? I do not know. I see it as problematic, but it may be3521the only way to thread the needle.3522    The Chairman. Dr. Johnson.3523    Dr. Johnson. Yes, I think, you know, the economy, the3524transportation industry, certainly needs consistency and3525alignment. So we want to make this change once. We do not want3526to pick something that is tried and then failed twice before,3527such that we spend lots of money fixing it again in a few3528years. You mentioned the economy, which again, you know, is so3529important, and you know, the majority of our workers start work3530early. The average work start time is 7:55 in the morning. So3531we would be forcing people all winter to go to work in the3532dark, really affecting their productivity and economics.3533    And so while certain businesses are going to have different3534benefits of the sun, I actually do want to give sun to people3535when they use it, when they use it to get up, when they use it3536to be healthy, when they use it to be more productive and3537efficient at work and to improve the overall economy, not just3538niche businesses like the golf industry that have shown they3539can be very successful in Standard Time, like in Arizona.3540    The Chairman. Dr. Harkey.3541    Dr. Harkey. Strictly speaking from a road safety3542perspective, I am not sure it would make any difference if3543states had the right to select the time, because it is, again,3544about the amount of light, the amount of ambient light during3545the times of travel. And so I do not think it would have an3546impact, personally. It would probably confuse me. But that is3547if we had that problem.3548    I will give you a quick anecdote. Almost 40 years ago, we3549were collecting speed data in New Mexico and Arizona as part of3550a research study. Had no idea at that time, being right out of3551school, had not really paid attention that Arizona did not3552bother to go to Daylight Saving Time, so that all of our3553equipment was an hour off when we went to pick up all the speed3554data, and we had to adjust it after the fact.3555    And so I think you would have those kinds of things, right,3556that could work their way into the system, unintentional3557mistakes, if we were to get into a system where we had a lot of3558different time zones going on.3559    The Chairman. Well, I, for one, am thankful for these magic3560devices that we carry, that when I land on a plane, I look down3561to figure out what time it is, because I am on a lot of planes3562and it changes.3563    I want to thank each of the four of you. This has been very3564helpful testimony, and you all have different perspectives, so3565each of you has added significantly to it.3566    Senators will have until the close of business on Thursday,3567April 17, to submit questions for the record. The witnesses3568will have until the end of the day on Thursday, May 1, to3569respond to those questions.3570    And this concludes today's hearing. The Committee stands3571adjourned.3572    [Whereupon, at 11:29 a.m., the hearing was adjourned.]35733574                            A P P E N D I X35753576      Response to Written Question Submitted by Hon. Ted Cruz to3577                              Scott Yates3578    Question. Current law allows states to opt out of daylight saving3579time (DST) without an act of Congress. In fact, both Arizona and Hawaii3580have done so. How do you explain why only two out of 50 states have3581decided to opt out of DST?3582    Answer. There are several reasons why most states have not opted3583out of DST:35843585  1.  Public preference: More daylight in the evening is generally3586        popular, and legislatures tend to reflect the will of the3587        people.35883589  2.  Business alignment: Many industries prefer later daylight hours,3590        and states often seek to stay in sync with national economic3591        patterns.35923593  3.  Regional coordination: States worry that being out of step with3594        neighbors could cause confusion and disruption for businesses3595        and travelers.35963597    Additional context:35983599   Not all of Arizona has opted out of DST. Navajo Nation3600        lands, which span multiple states and are larger than 10 U.S.3601        states by area, still observe the time changes.36023603   After the Uniform Time Act of 1966, four states initially3604        chose to stay on Standard Time year-round: Hawaii, Arizona,3605        Michigan, and Indiana. Michigan and Indiana later reversed3606        course, opting to rejoin the spring and fall time changes3607        rather than remain in Standard Time year-round.36083609    Regulating time zones is more complicated than it might seem.3610Today, several states (such as Indiana, Tennessee, and Nebraska)3611already have internal divisions. Rather than creating new confusion,3612the Sunshine Protection Act would actually reduce complexity by locking3613the Nation into a consistent time system, improving predictability for3614commerce. It would also give those states that are split the3615opportunity to re-unite into one time zone.3616    Finally, it is important to note that in 1966, Congress did not3617have the benefit of decades of medical research now available. Studies3618today overwhelmingly show that the biannual clock changes are harmful3619to public health and safety--a fact that strengthens the case for3620Federal action by passing the Sunshine Protection Act while allowing3621states to have the rights, and the time, to choose which time zone they3622want to lock into.3623                                 ______36243625   Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Maria Cantwell to3626                              Scott Yates3627    Public Opinion on Daylight Saving Time: Sunrises and sunsets occur3628at significantly different times within the same time zone. For3629instance, on the darkest day of the year, the sun rose in Seattle at36307:55 AM, but in San Diego, California, it rose at 6:47 AM, over an hour3631earlier. The differences can be even more pronounced in the Central3632Time Zone, where in Williston, North Dakota, the sun rises at 8:42 AM3633while it rises nearly two hours earlier in Mobile, Alabama.36343635    Question 1. How does a state's location within a time zone impact3636people's opinions on Daylight Saving Time?3637    Answer. A state's location within a time zone likely affects public3638opinion on Daylight Saving Time--but no polling has directly measured3639it.36403641   Most public opinion research on DST is conducted at the3642        national or state level.36433644   There is little to no polling that focuses on east-west3645        variations within time zones.36463647   Sunrise and sunset times can differ by more than an hour3648        within a single time zone, as your examples show, and those3649        differences likely shape people's views--but the data simply3650        doesn't exist yet.36513652    This geographic complexity is why I recommend a two-year3653implementation period for the Sunshine Protection Act.36543655   A two-year window would give states, communities,3656        businesses, and school districts time to experience both winter3657        and summer under permanent Daylight Saving Time.36583659   Local policymakers could adjust school hours, work3660        schedules, or advocate for a time zone shift based on real-3661        world experience.36623663   Congress would ensure a consistent national policy while3664        allowing flexibility for local adaptation--balancing Federal3665        leadership with local realities.36663667    Question 2. Has there ever been a nationwide poll of public opinion3668on ``locking the clocks''? What do available polling data tell us about3669people's opinions on whether we should switch to permanent standard3670time, permanent Daylight Saving Time, or keep the seasonal switch?3671    Answer. There have been many polls about ``locking the clocks,''3672but the quality varies depending on how the questions were asked.36733674   Many polls ask vague questions like ``Do you favor DST?''3675        without clarifying whether that means permanent DST, permanent3676        Standard Time, or keeping the seasonal clock changes.36773678   The clearest national poll in recent years asked voters3679        directly about the Sunshine Protection Act:36803681     Strongly support: 45 percent36823683     Somewhat support: 23 percent36843685     Somewhat oppose: 7 percent36863687     Strongly oppose: 7 percent36883689     Don't know/No opinion: 18 percent36903691    State legislative action also reflects strong support for locking3692the clocks into permanent Daylight Saving Time:36933694   Since 1966, two states (Indiana and Michigan) initially3695        opted for permanent Standard Time but later switched to3696        seasonal DST.36973698   Only two states (Hawaii and most of Arizona) have remained3699        on permanent Standard Time.37003701   24 states have passed legislation to adopt permanent DST if3702        authorized by Congress, with many others considering similar3703        measures.37043705    Public opinion on keeping the seasonal clock change is relatively3706small--and outweighed by clear evidence of public harm:37073708   Polls suggest about 10 percent of people favor continuing3709        the clock changes.37103711   However, as with other public safety issues--for example,3712        the Federal ban on metal-tipped lawn darts after they caused3713        three fatalities--action is justified when lives are at stake.37143715   The biannual clock change is linked to:37163717     At least 20 additional traffic deaths each year.37183719     Significant increases in heart attacks, strokes, and3720            other medical emergencies, contributing to hundreds or even3721            thousands of premature deaths annually.37223723    The best way forward is to act now to end the clock-changing, while3724allowing states flexibility to adjust.37253726   A two-year implementation period would allow states,3727        businesses, and schools to experience both winter and summer3728        under both simulated time structures.37293730   States would have the ability to adapt: adjusting school3731        start times, business hours, petitioning for a time zone change3732        if appropriate, or even holding an election to let voters3733        decide directly.37343735   This approach fixes the critical public safety problem3736        immediately while respecting local preferences for how best to3737        align daily schedules.37383739    If Congress could act decisively to ban lawn darts after three3740deaths, surely it can act now to end a practice that costs hundreds of3741lives each year.3742                                 ______37433744    Response to Written Question Submitted by Hon. Ben Ray Lujan to3745                              Scott Yates3746    Question 1. If your goal is to end clock changes and the health3747data supports permanent standard time, why not move everyone to3748standard time and allow Daylight Standard Time if states want, rather3749than the other way around?3750    Answer. I would certainly support this.3751    The problem is that while I am the founder of the wildly popular3752#LockTheClock movement, the reality is that I am just a lone citizen3753who blogs and testifies about this issue as a hobby.3754    In other words, my support is not nearly enough.3755    What we need is the support of health experts and business leaders.3756Advocating for permanent Standard Time as the default position will3757garner opposition from wide swaths of business groups, including3758recreation, retail, outdoor activities, etc. That will, in turn, lead3759to opposition from health groups because advocating for Standard Time,3760in reality, is advocating for keeping the status quo, which includes3761the deadly clock changing.3762    As Sen. Lujan knows all too well, we should do everything we can to3763reduce the incidence of strokes in the U.S. While changes to diet,3764exercise, medication and more are important, they are also lifestyle3765changes that are difficult to legislate.3766    The clock-changing, however, can be fixed and research published in3767the medical journal Circulation (V. 118, N. 3) is clear that the clock3768changing causes a significant spike in the number of strokes that3769require hospitalization.3770    Interestingly, most other negative health outcomes associated with3771clock changing apply only in the spring change. Heart attacks, for3772instance, go up after alarm clocks jolt people awake an hour earlier3773than their bodies expect. Traffic accidents spike. Hospital errors3774jump. In the fall when people get an extra hour of sleep, there is no3775spike in heart attacks and we don't see the other negative health3776impacts.3777    But strokes requiring hospitalization go up after the spring3778forward change, and also after the fall-back change. Clock changing in3779general causes more strokes.3780    So from a health perspective, the most important thing to do is to3781take action to Lock the Clock, and the most effective way to do that is3782to enact the Sunshine Protection Act, and do so with a two-year3783implementation so that individual states can have the science-based3784discussion about which time is most appropriate for that state given3785its physical location.3786    As someone who understands firsthand the impact of stroke, your3787leadership on this issue could help save countless lives across3788America.3789                                 ______37903791Response to Written Question Submitted by Hon. Lisa Blunt Rochester to3792                              Scott Yates3793    Question. How does a state's location within a time zone impact3794their opinions on Daylight Saving Time?3795    Answer. I haven't seen any polling specifically on this issue.3796    The question, however, gets to a crucial part of what must be3797considered by the U.S. Senate when looking at a national policy.3798Typically a national policy applies to all citizens equally, but this3799one is quite different.3800    Part of the reason there isn't polling is that typically pollsters3801ask questions of a national or perhaps a state sample group. There are3802no commonly used geographic areas that would make it possible to even3803conduct such polling.3804    That is why my suggestion to Congress is to modify the Sunshine3805Protection Act to have a two-year implementation phase.3806    Right now this debate is theoretical, and because it's been debated3807for so long, local policy makers and indeed the public have not taken3808action because they haven't had any reason to think that a healthy3809change is coming to the way we change the clocks twice per year.3810    If Congress were to enact the Sunshine Protection Act--and have it3811implemented after the ``spring forward'' change in March two years3812after enactment--then every state legislature, every school board,3813every business would have the opportunity to live through a winter and3814a summer estimating where the sun is in relation to the clock. State3815legislatures, if they like, could even have statewide elections to3816determine if a state will lock the clock in permanent Daylight Time or3817Standard Time.3818    In that way, the U.S. Congress would be properly fulfilling its3819role in regulating interstate commerce and the regulation of time3820zones, but local communities would be able to adopt either the3821appropriate time for their state, or adjust their schedules in ways3822that reflect their local realities.3823                                 ______38243825   Response to Written Question Submitted by Hon. Maria Cantwell to3826                               Jay Karen3827    Question. On the question of what the impact would be if adjoining3828states were to elect to have different daylight time designations. I am3829pleased to offer a brief reply.3830    Answer. The issue of what ``clock'' a state may be on in the future3831would be a consideration when people make plans to spend a morning,3832afternoon, day or road trip to play golf. If golfers, especially living3833near state borders where time changes (such as time zones and Daylight3834or Standard time) could impact plans, do not pay close attention or3835miscalculate the sunrise and sun setting times, they could experience3836frustration.3837    With adjoining states having different ``clocks,'' tee time booking3838systems and tour operator systems will have to be specifically3839programmed to ensure daylight considerations are clear and understood3840at the time of booking. It's easy to see people making this mistake: a38412:00 pm tee time in one state allows them to finish before dark,3842whereas a 2:00 pm tee time in a neighboring state (on the same golf3843road trip) might be curtailed by darkness.3844    To be honest, it's hard to even imagine the cascading effect of3845having states on different time zones and different ``clocks'' for the3846sun. While it's easy to posit this issue as a ``states' rights'' one,3847it's not hard to see how confusion may be sowed by it. I'm sure modern3848technology in our smartphones will help us get acclimated to such3849changes, but it will be interesting to see (if it happens).3850    In the golf industry, we simply know that later-afternoon sunlight3851is an important driver for increased play, which leads to better health3852and a better economy. NGCOA would be amenable to all states recognizing3853Daylight Saving Time year-round, but as we see in Texas and New Mexico,3854whose communities border Arizona, golfers can adapt to the different3855daylight periods.3856                                 ______38573858      Response to Written Question Submitted by Hon. Ted Cruz to3859                           Dr. Karin Johnson3860    Question. Current law allows states to opt out of daylight saving3861time (DST) without an act of Congress. In fact, both Arizona and Hawaii3862have done so. How do you explain why only two out of 50 states have3863decided to opt out of DST?3864    Answer. There is strong economic, communication (radio/cell phone),3865and transportation interest for states to remain in alignment with3866neighboring states and/or to be in alignment with certain states, such3867as a desire to align with Wall Street. Because any state can establish3868permanent Standard Time, there has been more hesitation to pass laws3869for standard time on a state level often wanting to defer to the3870Federal government to mandate a coordinated change so as not to cause3871major misalignment between states.3872    Additionally for many years there has been a large degree of3873misinformation spread stating that permanent daylight saving time would3874lead to improvements in health, mood and safety despite the data to the3875contrary. Cited data relies on the presumption that the only harms of3876daylight saving time are the twice yearly switches and disregards any3877harm from permanent daylight saving time itself. Rather the long-term3878effects of living on Daylight Saving Time increases the risk of chronic3879diseases and worsens safety and productivity to a greater degree than3880the short-term harms after the switching of clocks in the spring and3881fall.3882    Over the last 4 years, however, especially since the medical and3883scientific position statements supporting permanent standard time and3884increasing recognition of the problems with permanent daylight saving3885time, there has been growing political and public interest in adopting3886permanent standard time. This year there are more states with bills3887asking for permanent standard time than for permanent daylight saving3888time. On the other hand, over the last several years, there has been a3889rapid decline in the number of states passing bills requesting3890permanent daylight saving time. This aligns with what is being seen3891with an increasing number of national polls favoring permanent standard3892time. The most recent National gallop survey was strongly in favor of3893permanent standard time (48 percent) compared to permanent daylight3894saving time (24 percent).3895                                 ______38963897   Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Maria Cantwell to3898                           Dr. Karin Johnson3899    Health Impacts of Daylight Saving Time: In your testimony, you cite3900several studies that have found that Daylight Saving Time is associated3901with worse sleep quality because later sunrises disrupt our natural3902circadian rhythm.39033904    Question 1. How are the health impacts of switching to Daylight3905Saving Time different from jet lag caused by traveling between time3906zones?3907    Answer. When we travel from one time zone to another, the new3908timing of sunrise and sunset in our new location resets our circadian3909rhythms to that new time zone. This natural reset of our internal3910clocks typically occurs at the rate of 1 to 1.5 days per 1 hour of time3911zone change (that is, we typically realign to our new environment3912within a day for shorter distances and within a week for longer trips).3913    Until our bodies adjust to the new local sun time, we experience a3914short-term circadian misalignment known as jet lag, the signs of which3915include fatigue, sleepiness, sleep disturbances, difficulty3916concentrating, digestive issues (such as upset stomach, diarrhea, and3917constipation), irritability, mood disturbances, headaches, and3918dizziness.3919    If you are a very frequent traveler, then the constant disruption3920to circadian rhythms can be similar to the risks of shift-work3921disorder. These include increased rates of cancer, heart disease, high3922blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome,3923depression, and other metabolic and mood disorders. These are also3924similar to what is seen with the effect of setting clock time later3925under Daylight Saving Time.3926    When we change clocks to Daylight Saving Time, we do not change our3927environmental light timing. Our circadian rhythms and bodily hormones3928remain more aligned to the sun's time, and this creates a long-term3929misalignment between our internal rhythms that are set by the sun and3930our social schedules that are set by the clock. This misalignment3931persists throughout the entire Daylight Saving Time period. Factors3932that increase the negative impacts of Daylight Saving Time include:39333934  1.  Living on the western end of a time zone, because this is where3935        misalignment of clock time and sun time is largest.39363937  2.  Being a teenager or night owl, because their rhythms are3938        naturally already delayed, compared to other population groups.39393940  3.  Having a start time before 8:30 AM, because their earlier work or3941        school schedules necessitate earlier bedtimes to get sufficient3942        sleep before their morning alarms sound, and these earlier3943        bedtimes are often thwarted by the extended hours of evening3944        daylight.39453946  4.  Observing Daylight Saving Time in winter, when unavoidably3947        shorter periods of sunlight make for darker mornings, which3948        deprives exposure to natural light at the time of day when our3949        bodies and brains need it most.39503951    When clock time is moved later by Daylight Saving Time, our body3952rhythms are less able to anticipate our daily actions. In the morning,3953the alarm rings before our body naturally wants to get up. In the3954evening, we are less able to fall asleep at the time you need to go to3955bed to get enough sleep at night. This may lead to chronic sleep loss.3956Even small amounts of sleep loss can significantly increase risks of3957many health problems, including stroke, heart disease, obesity,3958depression, and dementia.3959    Circadian disturbances alone can also negatively impact our health,3960even with adequate sleep. An example of this is social jet lag, such as3961when we force ourselves to wake much earlier on weekdays than when we3962naturally wake on weekends. This continual change in daily timing can3963cause digestive and metabolic hormones to be produced out of sync from3964when we are eating, which can lead to poorer processing of food,3965irritated bowel, obesity, and diabetes. Circadian disruptions increase3966wear and tear on our immunity and healing, which can increase risks of3967infections, cancer, and dementia. Alertness, sleep quality, cognition,3968mood, and performance are also strongly affected by circadian3969regularity or irregularity.3970[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]39713972    Question 2. In Washington state, the latest sunrises in the darkest3973parts of the year are near 8 AM, even on standard time. If the sun rise3974is already later than when most people are going to work or school,3975will a switch to Daylight Saving Time make a difference on sleep3976quality?3977    Answer. When waking too early (relative to sunrise) is a problem,3978the answer is not to wake even earlier (as Daylight Saving Time3979covertly makes us do).3980    Currently, Seattle has 0 days with sunrise later than 8 AM, and a3981latest winter sunrise of 7:58 AM, which would not change under3982permanent Standard Time. Permanent Daylight Saving Time would postpone3983Seattle's sunrise past 8 AM for 112 days (nearly 4 months), and it3984would delay its latest sunrise to 8:58 AM.3985    Seattle's longitude is 122 degrees west, and the meridian for3986Pacific Standard Time is 120 degrees west. This close alignment between3987sun time and clock time keeps sunlight balanced across morning and3988evening, for optimal circadian health. When work schedules cause us to3989miss natural sunlight exposure both before and after work, then other3990``zeitgebers'' (time cues) have more influence on setting our rhythms,3991such as artificial light, or when we eat our meals. But these still3992tend to balance around noon.3993    Permanent Daylight Saving Time in Washington and elsewhere would3994delay winter sunrises until after most people go indoors to work and3995school for several months at a time. When morning sun light exposure is3996missed, evening sunlight exposure causes our circadian rhythms to3997delay.3998    This disruption of our circadian rhythms leads to serious health3999and performance issues.4000    While artificial light in the morning can help counteract circadian4001disorders such as depression and chronic fatigue, no artificial light4002can compare in brightness and quality to natural sunlight (even when4003filtered through clouds or precipitation). Furthermore, Daylight Saving4004Time's unseasonable exposure to evening daylight compounds the problems4005caused by lack of morning light. Unless individuals can expose4006themselves to high levels of artificial light (for example, 30 minutes4007of a 10,000-lux light box) each morning, as is prescribed for seasonal4008affective disorder and delayed sleep-phase syndrome, and they can4009purposely avoid artificial light in the evening (which they are more4010likely to be exposed to because they are more likely to stay up later4011during Daylight Saving Time), then their rhythms are likely to become4012delayed and chronically misaligned.4013    These negative effects were seen when Russia tried permanent4014Daylight Saving Time between 2011 and 2014, before their nation finally4015switched to permanent Standard Time. 16 percent more adolescents had4016over two hours of social jet lag during permanent Daylight Saving Time4017compared to permanent Standard Time. In other words, one hour of clock4018change led to over two hours of circadian misalignment in susceptible4019individuals.4020    Many studies show that having a clock time set one hour later than4021sun time can negatively affect both sleep duration and quality. The4022effect is greater for locations on the western ends of time zones,4023where circadian alignment is already delayed. Circadian rhythms most4024obviously affect sleep, but they also play very important roles in the4025timing of all bodily systems. Thus a delayed rhythm negatively effects4026metabolism, digestion, immunity, healing, hormones, heart health, and4027brain function, to name a few.4028                                 ______40294030   Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Maria Cantwell to4031                            Dr. David Harkey4032    Lighting Conditions and Roadway Safety: In the 1970s, the United4033States piloted year-round Daylight Saving Time. At the time, it was4034widely reported that mothers raised significant concerns about their4035children walking to school in the dark in the winter. They understood4036that visibility was a serious safety concern. Nationwide, over 704037percent of fatal accidents involving pedestrians occur at night.40384039    Question 1. How do low light conditions impact roadway safety for4040drivers and pedestrians?4041    Answer. Low lighting levels at night reduce a driver's ability to4042detect and recognize pedestrians. It is estimated that the time between40436:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. accounts for around 22 percent of miles4044traveled,\1\ but in 2023 55 percent of all traffic fatalities and 804045percent of pedestrian fatalities occurred in the dark or low light4046(including dawn/dusk).4047---------------------------------------------------------------------------4048    \1\ EPA (2020). Population and activity of onroad vehicles in4049MOVES3. EPA-420-R-20-023. https://cfpub.epa.gov/si/4050si_public_record_report.cfm?Lab=OTAQ&dirEntryId=32887040514052    Question 2. No matter what time the sun goes down, what roadway4053improvements can cities and states make to reduce pedestrian4054fatalities?4055    Answer. The clearest result from our daylight saving time study was4056that pedestrians and bicyclists are at greater risk in low-light and4057dark conditions, regardless of what time of day those conditions occur.4058Having sidewalks in urban and suburban areas or separated paths or4059paved shoulders in rural areas helps to ensure pedestrians are not4060walking in the vehicle travel lanes.\2\,\3\ The addition of4061lighting along these corridors and at intersections also makes a4062difference.\4\,\5\ At crossing locations, the use of4063rectangular rapid flashing beacons and pedestrian-triggered lighting4064can increase motorist yielding behavior.\6\4065---------------------------------------------------------------------------4066    \2\ Elvik, R., Høye, A., Vaa, T., & Sørensen, M.4067(2009) The Handbook of Road Safety Measures. Emerald Group Publishing,4068Leeds, England.4069    \3\ Gan, A., Shen, J., & Rodriguez, A. (2005). Update of Florida4070Crash Reduction Factors and Countermeasures to Improve the Development4071of District Safety Improvement Projects. Florida Department of4072Transportation. https://fdotwww.blob.core.windows.net/sitefinity/docs/4073default-source/research/reports/fdot-bd015-04-rpt.pdf4074    \4\ Retting, R. A., Ferguson, S. A., & McCartt, A. T. (2003). A4075review of evidence-based traffic engineering measures designed to4076reduce pedestrian-motor vehicle crashes. American Journal of Public4077Health, 93, 1376-1598. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.93.9.14564078    \5\ Wanvik, P. O. (2009). Effects of road lighting: an analysis4079based on Dutch accident statistics 1987-2006. Accident Analysis &4080Prevention, 41, 123-128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap4081.2008.10.0034082    \6\ Hu, W., Van Houten, R., Cicchino, J. B., Engle, J., & Al4083Shomaly, L. (2025). Effects of crosswalk illuminators and rectangular4084rapid flashing beacons on speed reductions and yielding to pedestrians4085at night. Transportation Research Record. https://doi.org/10.1177/408603611981240874131013140884089    Question 3. What vehicle technologies can help protect pedestrians4090when it is difficult for drivers to see?4091    Answer. There are two vehicle technologies that are most important4092to help protect pedestrians. First, headlights--the original collision4093avoidance technology. We have been rating headlights for nearly a4094decade, and automakers have subsequently been improving their4095headlights. We have been able to show that vehicles with headlights4096with good ratings in our tests can reduce nighttime pedestrian crashes4097by 23 percent compared to vehicles with poor-rated headlights.\7\4098Second, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. We have4099shown that early systems reduced pedestrian crash risk by 32 percent4100during the day but did not reduce pedestrian crashes in the dark.\8\4101However, automakers are now improving these systems to work better at4102night and score higher in IIHS's testing program.4103---------------------------------------------------------------------------4104    \7\ Brumbelow, M. L. (2022). Light where it matters: IIHS headlight4105ratings are correlated with nighttime crash rates. Journal of Safety4106Research, 83, 379-387. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.41072022.09.0134108    \8\ Cicchino, J. B. (2022). Effects of automatic emergency braking4109systems on pedestrian crash risk. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 172,4110Article 106686. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap4111.2022.10668641124113    Combatting Drowsy Driving: Sleep experts believe that Daylight4114Saving Time impacts people's sleep quality, which could lead to more4115people driving while they are tired. Driving while sleep-deprived has4116similar risks to driving while drunk. The AAA Foundation for Traffic4117Safety estimates there are over three hundred thousand crashes each4118---------------------------------------------------------------------------4119year caused by drowsy driving.41204121    Question 1. How can the vehicle safety requirements in the4122Bipartisan Infrastructure Law mitigate drowsy driving? Which4123technologies should USDOT be prioritizing?4124    Answer. There are several companies working on technologies to4125monitor drivers, assess their level of distraction or lack of4126engagement in the driving task, and potentially detect drowsy driving.4127There are other groups working on technologies to detect alcohol4128impairment prior to starting the vehicle and during the trip. All of4129these technologies need to be pursued, given our state of road safety.4130Remember, alcohol impairment, distraction, and drowsy driving4131contribute to more than a third of our fatalities. We need to invest in4132multiple technologies to find those that are most effective and4133feasible. We also need NHTSA to issue the rule to mandate advanced4134impaired driving technology as required of them under the Bipartisan4135Infrastructure Law.41364137    Question 2. What can state and local governments do now to improve4138their infrastructure to address drowsy driving?4139    Answer. Drowsy driving often results in lane departure crashes,4140either off the right side of the road into a fixed object, into an4141adjacent same-direction lane sideswipe collision, or across a4142centerline in a head-on collision. The use of rumble strips both on the4143edge of the roadway and the centerline can be an effective way to alert4144drowsy drivers.\9\ On approaches to intersections, the use of4145transverse rumble strips or stripes, advance warning flashers, and4146strobe lights in red signal faces can serve a similar4147purpose.\2\,\10\-\11\4148---------------------------------------------------------------------------4149    \9\ Torbic, D. J., Hutton, J. M., Bokenkroger, C. D., Bauer, K. M.,4150Harwood, D. W., Gilmore, D. K., Dunn, D. K., Ronchetto, J. J., Donnell,4151E. T., Sommer III, H. J., Garvey, P., Persaud, B., & Lyon, C. (2009).4152NCHRP Report 641: Guidance for the Design and Application of Shoulder4153and Centerline Rumble Strips, Transportation Research Board, Washington4154D.C. https://cmfclearinghouse.fhwa.dot.gov/studydocs/nchrp_rpt_641-4155GuidanceRumbleStrips.pdf4156    \10\ Park, Y.-J. & Saccomanno, F.F. (2005). Collision frequency4157analysis using tree-based stratification. Transportation Research4158Record, 1908, 121-129. https://doi.org/10.1177/0361198104159519080014160    \11\ Srinivasan, R., Carter, D., Persaud, B., Eccles, K., & Lyon,4161C. (2008). Safety evaluation of flashing beacons at stop-controlled4162intersections. Transportation Research Record, 2056, 77-86. https://4163doi.org/10.3141/2056-1041644165    Safe System Approach to Roadway Safety: Roadway fatality rates in4166the United States are 15 percent higher than they were a decade ago. In4167Washington state, 810 people died in traffic in 2023, a 10 percent4168increase from the year before and the largest number of traffic deaths4169in the state since 1990.4170    Currently, three Federal agencies, the Federal Highway4171Administration, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and4172the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, work with State4173Departments of Transportation, state law enforcement agencies, and4174state safety agencies to improve highway safety. Often, these agencies4175are siloed and lack meaningful communication and coordination.4176    We have learned from other industries, including the aviation4177industry, that safety is the responsibility of everyone involved in a4178system. In the aviation industry, we know that looking at safety4179holistically and creating redundancy is essential to preventing4180mistakes that could lead to fatal accidents.41814182    Question 1. How do we create redundancy in safety measures to4183prevent fatalities on our roads?4184    Answer. Redundancy is a key principle in the safe system approach.4185Each of the Federal and state agencies mentioned is responsible for4186part of the system, but no agency has decision-making authority for all4187of the surface transportation system. At a minimum, there must be4188deliberate and better communication between the agencies at the4189executive level, but perhaps more critically at the staff level. The4190staff are ultimately the ones who know what interventions work to4191address specific problems on our roadways and how they can provide that4192level of redundancy.41934194    Question 2. What safety features can be incorporated into vehicle4195and road design to ensure that one human error does not lead to a4196deadly accident?4197    Answer. That is the question that should be asked for every4198challenge we face--how do we prevent a mistake by a driver, pedestrian,4199bicyclist, or motorcyclist from becoming a fatality? This is another4200principle of the safe system approach--we are human, we will make4201mistakes, but no one should die because of a mistake.4202    I will give you one example of vehicle and infrastructure4203interventions to address a particular type of crash--running off the4204edge of the roadway and striking a rigid object. We need good edge4205lines, may use rumble strips or rumble stripes, include a paved4206shoulder for recovery area, and may have a guardrail to prevent4207striking that object.\9\,\12\-\13\ In the4208vehicle, we now have technology to provide lane departure warnings and4209lane-keeping systems. These interventions support each other to prevent4210that run-off-road collision.\14\4211---------------------------------------------------------------------------4212    \12\ Dissanayake, S. & Galgamuwa, U. (2017). Estimating Crash4213Modification Factors for Lane Departure Countermeasures in Kansas.4214Center for Transportation Research and Education, Iowa State4215University, Ames, IA. https://www.intrans.iastate.edu/wp-content/4216uploads/2018/07/Kansas_lane-departure_CMFs_w_cvr.pdf4217    \13\ Park, J., Abdel-Aty, M. & Lee, J. (2016). Evaluation of the4218Safety Effectiveness of Installing Roadside Barriers with Different4219Driver, Vehicle, Weather, and Time of Day Conditions. Proceedings of4220the 95th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board, Paper No.422116-0678, Washington, D.C.4222    \14\ Cicchino, J. B. (2018). Effects of lane departure warning on4223police-reported crash rates. Journal of Safety Research, 66, 61-70.4224https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2018.05.00642254226    Question 3. How does a safe system approach protect all the people4227who use our roads, including pedestrians and people riding on transit?4228    Answer. Another principle of the safe system approach is to ensure4229safety for ALL road users. We have clearly failed the most vulnerable4230on our roadways--pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists--whose4231deaths have increased 49 percent in the 10-year period from 2014 to42322023. From planning to design to operations, we have to consider the4233context of the environment, including factors like who the road users4234are, what types of vehicles use the road, and if the environment is4235rural or urban. That context can then be used to build a safety matrix4236of feasible infrastructure, vehicle, speed, behavior, and post-crash4237care interventions that will protect all road users.4238                                 ______42394240Response to Written Question Submitted by Hon. Lisa Blunt Rochester to4241                            Dr. David Harkey4242    Question 1. What can states and local governments do now to improve4243their infrastructure to address drowsy driving?4244    Answer. Drowsy driving often results in lane departure crashes,4245either off the right side of the road into a fixed object, into an4246adjacent same-direction lane sideswipe collision, or across a4247centerline in a head-on collision. The use of rumble strips both on the4248edge of the roadway and the centerline can be an effective way to alert4249drowsy drivers.\9\ On approaches to intersections, the use of4250transverse rumble strips or stripes, advance warning flashers, and4251strobe lights in red signal faces can serve a similar4252purpose.\2\,\10\-\11\42534254                                  [all]