Daylight Saving Time, what would happen if we stopped the tradition

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Once again, we are going to be shifting the clocks both this March and this November, at least at the moment.

Last year we had a lot of talk about the state of Indiana signing the Sunshine Protection Act, but that just meant it is one of about 20 states that are trying to pass a law on the federal level.

Michigan has stated in the past that they would stop the switch if neighboring states did the same, but we will have to stay tuned on federal proceedings as new laws to lock the clock are introduced.

Imagine for a minute it's a clear day in June and the sun is up at 5 a.m. That would be a possibility if Standard Time was permanently year-round. Now, that doesn’t sound completely perfect, but what about the alternative?

When we spring forward on Sunday, we will be on Daylight Saving Time, but if we kept Daylight Saving Time, our sunrises wouldn’t be at an ideal time in the winter.

Some areas in the Upper Peninsula, Montana, and North Dakota, could see a sunrise as late as 10 a.m. Florida, the state that routinely introduces legislation to keep Daylight Saving Time, wouldn’t be as affected as states closer to the western edges of the time zones, like us here in Michiana.

Here are some pros to keeping Daylight Saving Time around: One is that you would have more time after your day in the sunlight, meaning it would be safer to exercise outdoors in the evening hours, or there could be more time to shop or eat out, which adds a slight boost to the economy.

The pros to keeping standard time are somewhat similar. Earlier sunrises throughout the summer means you could use the cool early morning hours to exercise instead of doing it in the heat of the afternoon, and you also keep the sunrise in the winter relatively early, or at least consistent. And if you want to sleep in in the summer that’s alright as well, as sleep experts say the Standard Time schedule is closer to our natural sleep cycle anyway.