Don't forget to turn those clocks forward Sunday

As we deal with snow, rain, dangerous roofs, and roads, the time change may be the last thing on our minds. Sunday, March 12 marks the one time a year when a day has 23 hours in it as Daylight Saving Time begins, and clocks move forward at 2 a.m.

But why are we still having to switch times twice a year after California voters voted to abolish the ritual? Voters passed a ballot measure in 2018 by almost 60 percent, telling the state legislature they wanted a change to daylight saving. State lawmakers still have not passed legislation to abolish it.

In Washington D.C., Senator Marco Rubio reintroduced a bill that would make Daylight Saving Time permanent. Last year a bill called "The Sunshine Protection Act" passed unanimously in the Senate before stalling in the House. The bill Rubio reintroduced on March 2 is a resurrection of what he calls an "antiquated practice.”

While the selected figure out what to do, all states but Hawaii and Arizona are held hostage to the bi-annual clock change that is disruptive and causes health issues including risks for cardiac problems and stroke.

One good thing about the start of Daylight Saving Time is one hour extra of sunset at the end of the day, or if in South Lake Tahoe, an extra hour to shovel snow.

Enjoy it while it lasts as November 5 will be the beginning of Standard Time, the end of Daylight Saving Time, unless, of course, Washington makes a change before then.

1784 - The idea of daylight saving is first conceived by Benjamin Franklin.

1914-1918 - Britain goes on DLS during World War I.

March 19, 1918 - The Standard Time Act establishes time zones and daylight saving. Daylight saving is repealed in 1919, but continues to be recognized in certain areas of the United States.

1945-1966 - There is no federal law regarding Daylight Saving Time.

1966 - The Uniform Time Act of 1966 establishes the system of uniform Daylight Saving Time throughout the United States. The dates are the last Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October. States can exempt themselves from participation.

1974-1975 - Congress extends DLS in order to save energy during the energy crisis.

1986-2006 - Daylight Saving Time begins on the first Sunday in April and ends on the last Sunday in October.

August 8, 2005 - President George W. Bush signs the Energy Policy Act of 2005 into law. Part of the act will extend Daylight Saving Time starting in 2007, from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.

Don't forget, losing an hour of sleep can be tough on the body, but there are ways you can mitigate the impact, or avoid it altogether. It is too late now to alert you to changing sleep patterns for the week leading up to the day, but there are measures one can take to ease into the change.

Fatigue. Studies suggest that it takes people who work traditional hours several days to fully readjust their sleep schedule after the time change. Researchers report that adapting to the springtime change is more difficult than facing the end of Daylight Saving Time in October.

Accidents. Evidence suggests that time changes increase safety problems at work and at home. For example, studies have documented a 3.5 percent to 10 percent increase in traffic crashes during the week that follows the time change.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine suggests that in addition to going to bed early, you should also adjust daily routines that are “time cues” for your body. For example, eating dinner a touch earlier each evening.

Set your clocks to spring forward early Saturday evening, then go to sleep at your “regular” bedtime. By doing so, you’re basically spring forwarding your sleep one night earlier. Stick to your normal bedtime on Sunday too.