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Sponsor cites safety, economic and research arguments for year‑round daylight saving time
Summary
Representative West Cantrell told the committee that year‑round daylight saving time can reduce evening accidents, lower crime, increase evening recreation, and save energy; he cited several studies and a constituency poll but the committee requested full citations and materials for member review.
In presenting HB 709 (LC460236S), Representative West Cantrell summarized several lines of evidence he said support moving to year‑round daylight saving time or at least asking voters their preference. Cantrell said a social‑media poll of over 1,000 respondents showed roughly 70% would prefer year‑round daylight saving time among respondents who chose, and he cited research he said showed a 6% increase in fatal car crashes the week after spring forward and a 24% rise in heart‑attack risk in the week after spring forward.
Cantrell framed the arguments as public‑safety, recreation and economic benefits — "there's more sunlight in the evening... people prefer to exercise and recreate in the daylight" — and mentioned a modest (3–4%) energy‑savings estimate when on DST. Committee members asked for substantiation; the sponsor said he would distribute his talking points and visual charts and that members should treat the numerical claims as his cited evidence pending full citations.
