APPLETON (NBC 26) — The U.S Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would make daylight saving time permanent in 2023. If passed by the House and by President Biden, the bill would end the twice-annual time change from standard time in the fall to daylight saving time in the spring.
Some parents say they're in favor of doing away with the time change, saying it's often a hassle that disrupts their morning routine as they're trying to get their children out the door and off to school.
"Getting up for school it takes them a couple days at least to re-adjust,” said Hallie Shopvell, a mother of two teenagers from Appleton.
“I think we should stay on daylight savings. It never made a lot of sense to me," said Rob Anderson, a father from Appleton. "It’s not a big deal to me but my wife absolutely hates it. She has to get the kids up every morning and she just despises it.”
Unfortunately, keeping the same time year-round would mean there would be less sunlight in the morning later in the year. In Northeast Wisconsin, in December the sun wouldn’t rise until around 8:30 a.m if daylight saving time was made permanent.
School bus companies say the change would mean their drivers would have to adjust to driving in the dark every morning in the winter.
“The typical bus driving safety tips is to be aware of your surroundings but when it’s darker I always say you double your intention," said Henrique Hilgenberg, the safety manager for Kobussen Busses. "The hazard can be double, can be worse, so you have to really step up your game and be more aware.”
The darker mornings would also mean that all drivers would have to be more cautious of children who may be out walking to school or waiting for the bus in the dark. Lieutenant Meghan Cash of the Appleton Police Department says morning commuters will have to do their part to stay aware while driving.
“It's going to be more of a priority as a community to be intentional when you’re driving, to have less distractions and to have that awareness," Cash said.
"When you see a big yellow school bus out there with the lights flashing, that means there are kids around," Hilgenberg said.“If you’re out there and you see a bus flashing lights, slow down, be careful, be prepared to stop.”
