Why the US Kept Daylight Saving Time美國為何保留夏令時

On the second Sunday of March， at 2 a.m.， clocks in most of the United States and many other countries move forward one hour and stay there for nearly eight months in what is called Daylight Saving Time. On the first Sunday of November， at 2 a.m.， clocks fall back an hour to standard time.

每年3月第二個周日的凌晨兩點，美國大部分地區和其他許多國家的時鐘都會撥快一個小時，然后維持差不多8個月，實行所謂的夏令時（也叫日光節約時制）。到11月第一個周日的凌晨兩點，時鐘又會調回到標準時間。

The current March to November system that the US follows began in 2007， but the concept of “saving daylight” is much older. Daylight Saving Time has its roots in train schedules， but it was put into practice in Europe and the United States to save fuel and power during World War I， according to the US Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

美國現行的3月至11月夏令時開始于2007年，但“節約日光”的概念卻有更久遠的歷史。美國交通部交通統計局的資料顯示，夏令時源自列車時刻表，但將其付諸實施的是第一次世界大戰期間的歐洲和美國，目的是節約燃料和電力。

Reasons for Daylight Saving Time

實行夏令時的緣由

The US kept Daylight Saving Time permanent during most of World War II. The idea was put in place to conserve fuel and keep things standard. As the war came to a close in 1945， Gallup asked respondents how we should tell time. Only 17% wanted to keep what was then called “war time” all year.

第二次世界大戰期間的大部分時間里，美國一直實行夏令時，旨在節省燃料，保持標準統一。1945年，大戰接近尾聲，美國民調公司蓋洛普就時制問題展開調查，只有17%的受訪者表示愿意全年保留當時所謂“戰爭時間”的制度。

During the energy crisis of the 1970s， we tried permanent Daylight Saving Time again in the winter of 1973–1974. The idea again was to conserve fuel. It was a popular move at the time when President Richard Nixon signed the law in January 1974. But by the end of the month， Florida’s governor had called for the law’s repeal after eight schoolchildren were hit by cars in the dark. Schools across the country delayed start times until the sun came up. By summer， public approval had plummeted1， and in early October Congress voted to switch back to standard time.

20世紀70年代能源危機期間，美國在1973年至1974年的那個冬天再次嘗試長期實行夏令時，這次還是為了節省燃料。1974年1月，時任總統理查德·尼克松簽署了夏令時法案，實行夏令時在當時是個很受歡迎的舉措。然而，就在那個月底，有8名小學生在黑暗中遭遇車禍，佛羅里達州州長呼吁撤銷該法案。接著，全美的學校把上學時間推遲到太陽升起后。到了夏季，民眾對夏令時法案的支持率已直線下降，10月初國會投票決定改回標準時間。

In the US， states are not required by law to “fall back” or “spring forward.” Hawaii， most of Arizona and some territories in the Pacific and Caribbean do not observe Daylight Saving Time. The twice-yearly switcheroo2 is irritating enough to lawmakers of all political stripes that the US Senate passed legislation in March 2022 to make Daylight Saving Time permanent. The bill passed by unanimous consent. It would need to pass the House of Representatives and be signed by President Joe Biden to become law.

美國法律并不要求各州必須“向后”或“向前”調整時間。夏威夷州、亞利桑那州大部分地區以及太平洋和加勒比海的部分美國屬地都不實行夏令時。每年兩次大調時間對各個派別的立法者來說都是件很惱人的事，于是，2022年3月，美國國會參議院通過了將夏令時永久化的法案。此法案經參議員們一致同意，但還需經眾議院通過，再由時任總統喬·拜登簽字才能成為法律。

House lawmakers failed to vote on the bill in 2022. However， on March 2， a dozen senators forming a bipartisan group reintroduced the legislation that would end clock switching in favor of permanent Daylight Saving Time. Companion legislation to the Sunshine Protection Act was introduced by Rep. Vern Buchanan， a Republican from Florida， in the House.

眾議院在2022年未就該法案進行投票。然而，2023年3月2日，由12位參議員組成的兩黨合作小組再次提出關于夏令時永久化的法案，以期省去每年兩次大調時間的麻煩。來自佛羅里達州的共和黨眾議員維恩·布坎南還提出了《陽光保護法》的附屬法案。

Why do we need Daylight Saving Time

我們為什么需要夏令時

Studies over the last 25 years have shown the one-hour change disrupts body rhythms tuned to Earth’s rotation， adding fuel to the debate over whether having Daylight Saving Time in any form is a good idea.

過去25年開展的相關研究已表明，一個小時的時間調整會打亂與地球自轉相適應的人體節律——這讓各方就是否應該實行任何形式的夏令時的爭論變得更為激烈。

The issue is that for every argument there is a counterargument. There are studies， for example， that show we have more car accidents when people lose an extra hour of sleep. There are also studies that show robberies decline when there is an extra hour of sunlight at the end of the day. We also know that people suffer more heart attacks at the start of Daylight Saving Time. But what about our mental health？ People seem to be happier when there is an extra hour of daylight.

問題是，每個論點都有可反駁它的論證。比如，有研究顯示，人們少睡一小時，就會發生更多車禍事故。另有研究顯示，傍晚多一小時日照，搶劫案件會減少。我們還知道，夏令時開始的時候，心臟病發作率會提高。但我們的心理健康狀態會怎樣呢？多一小時的日照時間，人們似乎更開心。

Of course， there’s the economy， which pays for all that outdoor fun in the sun. Although saving energy was often put out as a reason to have Daylight Saving Time， the energy saved isn’t much—if anything at all. Instead， the lobbying effort for Daylight Saving Time came mostly from different sectors of the economy. In the mid-20th century， lobby groups for the recreational sports industry （think driving ranges） wanted more customers to come out after a day at the office. It’s easier to do so when there is more light at the end of the day.

當然了，還有經濟因素，戶外陽光下的所有快樂都由它買單。雖然節省能源常常被說成是實行夏令時的原因，但節省下來的能源就算有也并不多。事實上，努力游說實行夏令時的人大多來自各經濟領域。20世紀中葉，休閑體育產業（比如高爾夫球練習場）的游說團體希望有更多的人在一天工作結束后出去消費，而如果傍晚有更充足的光線，這就比較容易實現。

But the movie industry didn’t like Daylight Saving Time. You’re less likely to go to a movie when it’s bright outside. Despite the myth， farmers didn’t like it either because it made it difficult to get their food to the market in the morning.

但是電影產業不喜歡夏令時，因為人們不太會在大白天去影院看電影。聽起來讓人不太理解，農民們也不喜歡夏令時，原因是夏令時不利于他們清晨把食物送到市場。

The bottom line： It’s not clear whether having that extra hour of sunlight at the end of the day versus the beginning is helpful. It just depends on who you are and what you want. And it doesn’t look like Daylight Saving Time in the US is going away anytime soon.

關鍵的是，傍晚多一小時日照是否比清晨多一小時日照更有益，這個問題尚無明確答案。這取決于你的身份和需求。不過就目前來看，美國在短期內不會取消夏令時。

1 plummet（數量、比率、價格）暴跌。" 2 switcheroo驟變；突如其來的變化。