NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Clocks are officially one hour ahead in most states across the U.S., including Tennessee, for daylight saving time. News 2 spoke with Tennesseans to see what they think of this practice.
Like many other Americans, Teresa Ray told News 2 she wishes the century-old practice didn’t exist.
“I’ll be tired for two weeks,” she said.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, the change to daylight saving time has been linked to an increase in heart attacks, strokes, and car crashes.
“I hate it, because when we ‘spring forward,’ you stay so tired all the time, not to mention how much it costs to do this every year,” Ray added.
For others, “springing forward” brings a positive change. It means brighter evenings, basking in the sun longer, and more daylight after work and school to exercise and be outside.
“I love to play outside a lot,” a young girl named Brooklyn Watkins told News 2.
The United States started observing daylight saving time in 1918. About 70 other countries reportedly follow the practice, as well.
In Tennessee, daylight saving time has been a hotly-debated topic.
In 2019, Gov. Bill Lee signed legislation that would establish daylight saving time as the standard in Tennessee should Congress ever give that authority to the states.
Then, in 2023, state Sen. Heidi Campbell (D-Nashville) sponsored a bill to eliminate daylight saving time in Tennessee and make it darker earlier year-round if neighboring states joined in, but lawmakers couldn’t agree and the bill didn’t pass.
