To: The Utah State House, The Utah State Senate, and Governor Gary R. Herbert
End Daylight Savings in Utah
Utah should cease participation in daylight savings time. It decreases productivity, increases depression, accidents, and suicides. It does not save energy, as proven by research studies in Indiana when they switched and Ohio where different counties do and Do not switch. 25 percent of Utah's population is seasonally affected meaning their moods change with sunlight. Children respond to the sun regardless of the position of the clock. Schools feel the change in decreased attention from the students. We need to end this.
Why is this important?
I suffer from seasonal affective mood disorder. Along with 25 percent off the state who suffer from mood disorders of some type, I am very susceptible to daylight exposure and changes. I have a very difficult time adjusting my schedule. This is especially true before spring equinox, when switching to daylight time, which forces me to arise before the sun. Utah is farther west in the Mountain time zone, which means we have to wait longer for the sun to reach us. We also have to wait longer in the long summer days for darkness to allow for natural sleep to begin.