More Winter Daylight in Oklahoma

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We believe that the state of Oklahoma should keep Daylight Saving Time all year round. The benefits of doing this are numerous, the negatives are few (if any).

The arguments against DST are largely irrelevant to extending DST into the winter, because they focus either on too much daylight in the evening or not enough daylight before work. In the winter, the daylight will not extend into the evening or before work regardless of whether DST is in effect.

The main reason DST is opposed is because of the farmers. But farmers set their work schedules by the sun, not by the clock. So, opposition on behalf of farmers is without merit. It's true that during the winter months we would be on a different time than other states in our time zone, but the same is true with Arizona and Hawaii and it works okay for them.

Since most Oklahomans work indoors, DST is needed even more in the winter than the summer. So why end it when we need it the most? Daylight Saving Time should continue all year long.


Positives to keeping DST year-round:

1. There will still be daylight when people get home from 9-5 jobs. Otherwise, it will be dark when they get to work and dark when they leave. The winter is when we need exposure to sunlight the most, because the days are shorter.

2. More exposure to sunlight during the week will help prevent depression and possibly even suicide. (a)

3. Lack of sunlight in the winter months has been linked to the sharp increase in cases of influenza. Vitamin D has been shown to prevent the flu, and we get Vitamin D from exposure to the sun. (b)

4. More afternoon sunlight has been shown to reduce the number of automobile accidents. (c)

5. More afternoon sunlight has been shown to benefit retailers and any outdoors-related businesses, as people are more motivated to go shopping and do activities after work. (d)

6. No more confusion with having to change the clock back/forward twice a year.

7. Changing the clocks on and off DST during the year has been shown to increase work-related accidents. (e)

8. Seasonal Affective Disorder, which occurs in the winter, will be significantly reduced among those who work 9-5 jobs. (f)

9. Clock changes affect the circadian rhythm so much that frequency of heart attacks rise "significantly" during the first 3 workdays following the spring clock change. Having no clock changes will prevent this. (g)

10. Clock changes have been shown to result in adverse effects from medical devices that can harm patients. (h)

11. More sunlight exposure reduces some mental illnesses. (i)

12. More afternoon sunlight leads to more exercise which improves health. (j)

13. More sunlight exposure can help decrease the risk of at least 13 different types of cancer. (k)

14. Lack of sunlight may also be linked to autism, Alzheimer's disease, osteoarthritis, parkinson's disease, arthritis, rickets, and cystic fibrosis. (l)(m)(n)(q)(r)(s)(t)

15. Sunlight helps maintain adequate levels of insulin in type 2 diabetics. (o)

16. Sunlight exposure helps increase survival in patients with cardiovascular disease and may decrease the risk of stroke. (p)(u)


Because of these benefits and lack of significant negative consequences, we believe DST should be observed all year round in Oklahoma.


(a) http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/depression.shtml
(b) http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/science/research/vitamin-d-and-influenza.shtml
(c) http://ajph.aphapublications.org/cgi/reprint/85/1/92.pdf
(d) http://commdocs.house.gov/committees/science/hsy73325.000/hsy73325_0.HTM
(e) http://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/apl9451317.pdf
(f) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16648247?dopt=Abstract
(g) http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc0807104
(h) http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/AlertsandNotices/PublicHealthNotifications/ucm062068.htm
(i) http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/mentalIllness.shtml
(j) http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/researchObesity.shtml
(k) http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/cancerMain.shtml
(l) http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/health/autism/autism-information.shtml
(m) http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/science/research/vitamin-d-and-alzheimers-disease.shtml
(n) http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/science/research/vitamin-d-and-cystic-fibrosis.shtml
(o) http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/science/research/vitamin-d-and-cystic-fibrosis.shtml
(p) http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/researchHeartDisease.shtml
(q) http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/researchOsteoarthritis.shtml
(r) http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/science/research/vitamin-d-and-parkinsons-disease.shtml
(s) http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/science/research/vitamin-d-and-rheumatoid-arthritis.shtml
(t) http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/science/research/vitamin-d-and-rickets.shtml
(u) http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/science/research/vitamin-d-and-stroke.shtml