Synthesis Essay On Daylight Saving Time

In 1974, Benjamin Franklin suggested an annual shift in time in order to utilize sunlight to the nation’s best ability. Daylight saving time received an immense amount of controversy, but was officially signed into law in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 by President George W. Bush. Daylight saving time offers protection for civilians, reduces crime rates, and conserves energy. An extended amount of sunlight provides civilians with safety. As shown in Source A, the dark winter mornings put children walking to school in potentially dangerous situations. Summer daylight saving time allows children to walk to school without having to worry about dark sidewalks and street corners. Not only does this apply to children, but any individual who rises in the early mornings. The ability to feel safer in today’s society is of the utmost importance to U.S citizens and those residing in the nation. During daylight saving time crime rates seem to plummet below the normal rate. As stated in Source C, violent crime rates were reduced “by 10 to 13 percent during periods of daylight saving time.” Sunlight causes civilians to feel generally safer in today’s society. It is believed that crime is greatly influenced by lighting conditions. By scheduling the hours to create more sunlight time the influence of crime opportunities is diminished greatly. Daylight

Source C states that roughly “forty to fifty megawatt hours” of electricity, during daylight saving time, is saved nationwide. Sunlight provides more recreational time and decreases the use of electronic appliances such as a TV. This leads to a more active society and advances people's immune systems. By getting out of the house, even to go shopping, an individual is exposed to more bacteria therefore exercising their body and immune system. Daylight saving time provides civilians with more active opportunities by conserving energy inside one’s