How Would Colorado Be Affected By Ending Daylight Savings Time?

Daylight Savings Time – hate or love it?

Not many Coloradans have great things to say about changing our clocks twice a year. Aside from getting blinded driving eastbound on I70 every morning in the colder months, several studies have shown health risks increase due to the time jump. Those risks include sleep disruption, mood disturbances and greater incidents of heart attacks and strokes.

However, President-elect Donald Trump has shown interest in canceling WWII-era measure. He has called DST inconvenient and costly to the US; which is why he would like to stop the practice when he re-enters the presidential office.

So, what exactly would standard time look like for the Centennial State? According to 9News Meteorologist, Chris Bianci, currently on DST, the latest sunsets in the summer occur at 8:43 pm and sunrises in June occur about 5:30 am. On standard time, the sunrises would change to 4:30 am in June and sunsets at 7:34 pm in the summer.

Experts from medical groups such as the American Academy of Sleep Medicine believe the health benefits of standard time are so great, they consistently advocated for the expulsion of Daylight Savings Time on a national level. On the flip-side, benefits of longer daylight hours due to DST include safer driving, lower car accident rates, fewer car vs pedestrian accidents, good for the economy, fewer robberies and promotes active lifestyles.

Whether you are for or against Daylight Savings Time, the bi-annual practice seems at the forefront of the president-elect’s mind.  Does that mean Colorado (and the rest of the DST active states) will be joining Arizona and Hawaii in year-round standard time within next four years? We will have to wait and see.