Sunday morning is time to fall back an hour

Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009 | 2:10 a.m.

Most of the United States, including Las Vegas, will gain an hour at 2 a.m. Sunday by turning back clocks to standard time.

When daylight saving time began at 2 a.m. on March 8, clocks sprang forward one hour.

Why change time at 2 a.m.? When daylight saving time began in Great Britain and then the United States in the 19th century, early morning was a perfect time with less disruption to the railroads.

Benjamin Franklin proposed daylight saving time as an American delegate in Paris in 1784. The idea caught on to standardize time in London in 1840, proposed by the railroads there. The United States followed on Nov. 18, 1883, again led by the railroads.

While most states observe the spring forward, fall back switch in time, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands and Arizona do not change the clock.

However, the Navajo Nation in Arizona does participate in daylight saving time and will roll the clock back Sunday. The Hopi Reservation, entirely surrounded by the Navajo Nation, does not observe daylight saving time, creating a "doughnut hole" in time in the middle of Arizona.

In 2007, Congress voted to switch the end of daylight saving time to the first Sunday in November to offer trick-or-treaters more daylight time to venture into the streets, although most children wait until after dark to go out.

Las Vegas Fire Department spokesman Tim Szymanski said the return to standard time is perfect for changing batteries in smoke detectors.

Until March 14, 2010, when the United States springs forward an hour for daylight saving time, most Americans can enjoy an extra hour of sleep Sunday morning.

Discussion: 9 comments so far…

By Fccfirstclass

10/31/09 at 2:50 a.m.

Suggest removal

Our VCR, bought in 1988, changed back one hour last weekend. It doesn't need no stinkin' new rule for it's clock.
By Planetearthcalling

10/31/09 at 7:52 a.m.

Suggest removal

Nothing is gained by changing our clocks twice a year.
By LVBear

10/31/09 at 10:27 a.m.

Suggest removal

"In 2007, Congress voted to switch the end of daylight saving time to the first Sunday in November to offer trick-or-treaters more daylight time to venture into the streets, although most children wait until after dark to go out."
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So that's why Congress made the stupid change? Absurd. This is the same bunch of clowns that is trying to solve our national problems? No wonder we're in such a mess.
By wizardofOz

10/31/09 at 10:21 p.m.

Suggest removal

Yep, the same bunch that's trying to save the world from themselves.

And they get paid for it with your money.
By pgctg141

11/1/09 at 8:32 a.m.

Suggest removal

Changing the clocks twice a year accomplishes nothing. Lets pick one, either daylight savings time or standard time (preferably daylight savings) and quit screwing around with this nonsense. At some point darkness will set in, a few hours later it will become light once again. Amazing! Why fuss with this kind of thing twice a year when it really doesn't matter?
By Phargo

11/1/09 at 9:50 a.m.

Suggest removal

Where does that hour go?
By RustyShackleford

11/1/09 at 6:18 p.m.

Suggest removal

Parts of Indiana also don't participate, changing from central to eastern time The reason is the same as the reason Arizona doesn't adhere to DST.

When the idea was proposed, the farmers all protested saying that the extra hour of sunlight in the summer would burn up their crops.
By Vegasvampire

11/1/09 at 8:12 p.m.

Suggest removal

my Win Me/OS changed time last week also.

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