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Proposal on implementing permanent time zones in the European Union

timeuse.barcelona

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Re: Proposal on implementing permanent time zones in the European Union

#51

Post by pmontra »

highmastdon wrote: post #32

We (Europe) shouldn't fragment time zones that much. We (NL) should stay on permanent summer time. Reasons - criminality is lower when there's longer light - earlier darkness leads to more accidents. It's better to have longer darkness after the masses are RESTED (in the morning), opposed to when they're TIRED (in the evening) - longer day-time for office workers, is more productive - shorter time of year that has lo…

I live in Italy and I also want a permanent summer time: for the way we live it's far more valuable to have light in the evening than in the morning. Actually, I'd get double summer time March to October or at least April to September.

I know that we could just change our culture and habits and move everything we use to do one hour back, but that has an inertia that will make it impossible.

Re: Proposal on implementing permanent time zones in the European Union

#53

Post by xoa »

datadrivenangel wrote: post #2

"After agreement of a common date within the EU, we recommend doing the transition in 1 to 2 steps, depending on the member state: Step 1: All EU countries abolish the clock change to DST in spring and remain on the clock time they use in winter. For those countries whose recommended time zone is their current standard time, no further steps need to be taken. Step 2: Those countries whose recommended time zone is not…

Well we can't, and that's having tried! The replies do a great job of illustrating why really: there's no consensus. Some want permanent standard time. Some want permanent DST. Some are fine the way it is. In a big country spanning a lot of latitude as well as longitude and tens of millions on wildly different work and sleep schedules, messy compromise making no one entirely happy is what success looks like.

Basically time stuff is arguably one of the big Chesterton's Fences that comes up on HN a lot. We didn't end up where we are for no reason or because people in the past were stupid.

Re: Proposal on implementing permanent time zones in the European Union

#54

Post by antupis »

theodric wrote: post #9

After placing all of Europe on permanent winter time, going by the image provided, this proposal seeks to split Ireland's time zone from the UK's and place it a further hour earlier, thereby ensuring that the sun will begin setting at 2:30PM, and it will be pitch black out at 3:30PM in the winter, all in the name of achieving "permanent time zones as close as possible to solar time (natural time) in Europe." Well don…

Studies show that you want those daylight hours to morning less depressions and sleeping problems.

Re: Proposal on implementing permanent time zones in the European Union

#56

Post by mjevans »

charlieyu1 wrote: post #48

Don't think it is workable. Changing clocks is annoying, but probably a good idea when you live in high latitudes.

See my other post in this discussion. Higher latitudes are dominated by the tilt of the earth https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/usa/seattle DST only harms them by making the latest summer sunset around 10PM.

Re: Proposal on implementing permanent time zones in the European Union

#57

Post by edgyquant »

highmastdon wrote: post #32

We (Europe) shouldn't fragment time zones that much. We (NL) should stay on permanent summer time. Reasons - criminality is lower when there's longer light - earlier darkness leads to more accidents. It's better to have longer darkness after the masses are RESTED (in the morning), opposed to when they're TIRED (in the evening) - longer day-time for office workers, is more productive - shorter time of year that has lo…

> criminality is lower when there's longer light

Correlation is not causation

Re: Proposal on implementing permanent time zones in the European Union

#58

Post by ghusto »

roflmaostc wrote: post #18

I find it kind of absurd that people claim that clock alignment has negative impact on their health. Studies show that but: You do it only twice per year. But how often do you stay late up because of an event or whatever. And how often do you travel to another time zone, sometimes even >6 hours. I think the latter effects outweigh the health impact of clock alignment significantly.

> You do it only twice per year

Your body has six months to get used to an hour difference, so it sets in nicely, for maximum impact 6 months later.

> But how often do you stay late up because of an event or whatever

Personally, not often at all, but I get the point. The time you're supposed to wake up doesn't change though, and that's what makes the difference.

> And how often do you travel to another time zone, sometimes even >6 hours

I can count how many times I've done that in my life on one hand, and I'm sure I'm not alone in Europe.

> I think the latter effects outweigh the health impact of clock alignment significantly.

Have to disagree. Like I said it's to do with having a set hour you're _supposed_ to wake up. Meal times are another big factor.

Re: Proposal on implementing permanent time zones in the European Union

#59

Post by stavros »

p-a_58213 wrote: post #46
stavros wrote: post #11

This sucks, not only will Greece not stay on summer time, we'll actually go to one hour back from winter time ? So not only will we not get one more hour of daylight in the evening (ie stay on summer time), we'll actually get one hour less than we have now? That's terrible.

Also, the Greek islands will have a different timezone from the Greek mainland? This must be a joke.

That must be an error, there's no way.

Re: Proposal on implementing permanent time zones in the European Union

#60

Post by NeoTar »

Putting Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland (AKA Ireland) on different timezones strikes me as political suicide for anyone proposing it.

But otherwise I am warm to the proposal. Some tweaks would make it more practical/politically acceptable (keep Portugal and Ireland on the Western Time Zone, don't split up Greece from the islands).

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