As British Columbia prepares to adopt permanent daylight saving time (DST) this fall, ending the biannual clock changes that have long frustrated residents, history offers a cautionary tale. Multiple jurisdictions worldwide have experimented with year-round DST, often amid energy crises or productivity goals, only to abandon it due to public backlash, safety concerns, and unintended health impacts. From the United States’ short-lived trials to Russia’s recent reversal, these efforts reveal a pattern: the promise of extra evening light frequently clashes with darker mornings, disrupted sleep, and minimal energy savings.
The United States provides the most prominent examples. During World War II, from 1942 to 1945, the country implemented “War Time”—effectively permanent DST—to conserve fuel for the war effort. While it aligned with wartime needs, public support waned postwar, with only about 17% favoring its continuation. The measure was scrapped in 1945 amid complaints of disrupted routines and no lasting benefits.
Three decades later, amid the 1973 oil embargo, President Richard Nixon signed the Emergency Daylight Saving Time Energy Conservation Act, mandating year-round DST starting January 6, 1974. Intended as a two-year trial to cut energy use by shifting daylight to evenings, it initially enjoyed 79% public approval in December 1973. But as winter set in, sunrise delayed to after 8 a.m. in many areas, forcing children to commute to school in darkness. Reports of accidents, including fatal ones involving Florida schoolchildren, fueled outrage. Parents and safety advocates dubbed it “Daylight Disaster Time.” Approval plummeted to 42% by February 1974, and a Department of Transportation study found negligible energy savings—possibly even increased gasoline consumption due to more daytime driving. Congress repealed the law in October 1974, just eight months in, with President Gerald Ford signing the reversal. A Senate report noted that any minor benefits were outweighed by “a majority of the public’s distaste.”
Across the Atlantic, the United Kingdom tried a similar experiment from 1968 to 1971, known as British Standard Time. Clocks stayed advanced year-round, providing lighter evenings but darker mornings—sunrise after 10 a.m. in northern Scotland during midwinter. A government review found a net reduction in road casualties: an 11% drop overall, with fewer evening accidents offsetting slight morning increases. However, opposition was fierce, particularly from farmers, construction workers, and Scots facing prolonged darkness. Dairy farmers reported disrupted routines, and parents worried about child safety. A 1970 White Paper deemed benefits unquantifiable, and Parliament voted 366-81 to end the trial early, citing qualitative dissatisfaction over any data-driven gains.
Russia’s 2011-2014 foray into permanent “summer time” echoed these issues. Under President Dmitry Medvedev, the country advanced clocks and eliminated fallbacks to boost productivity and align with Europe. But complaints surged: health problems from sleep disruption, higher morning accident rates, and seasonal affective disorders. Lawmakers cited stress and increased depression, blaming the policy for darker winters. By 2014, the State Duma voted overwhelmingly to revert to permanent standard time, expanding time zones from nine to 11 for better regional fit. About 63% of Russians now live in Moscow Standard Time, with no DST since.
Portugal’s 1992-1996 trial also faltered. Aligning with Central European Time for economic ties, the country adopted permanent DST, but studies showed increased energy use—up during winter mornings for heating and lighting, contradicting conservation goals. Public discontent over health and safety led to its reversal in 1996.
These failures underscore broader health risks. Recent studies, including a 2025 Stanford analysis, model permanent DST causing circadian misalignment, potentially raising nationwide obesity by 0.78% and strokes by 300,000 annually. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine advocates permanent standard time, citing increased accidents, heart attacks, and mood disorders from DST’s dark mornings and evening light exposure. A 2024 review links it to higher suicide rates and traffic fatalities.
For BC, with its northern latitude mirroring Scotland’s challenges, experts warn of similar pitfalls. While Premier David Eby’s announcement cites family benefits, history suggests monitoring public response closely. As one U.S. expert noted, “It became very unpopular very quickly.” Whether BC bucks the trend remains to be seen, but past experiments urge caution in tampering with time.