Brighter evenings, darker school mornings: Permanent daylight saving time could put children's safety at risk

In July 2026, U.S. lawmakers passed a bill to make daylight saving time (DST) permanent, but a new study reveals this could pose significant safety risks for millions of schoolchildren. According to the research published in the journal Current Biology, permanent DST would lead to over 2 billion children starting their school day before sunrise, increasing the likelihood of fatal pedestrian crashes during early morning commutes.

Horacio de la Iglesia, a researcher at the University of Washington, emphasizes that moving the school day earlier in relation to the sun without altering the bell schedule would expose children to dark mornings, potentially putting them at a higher risk of early-morning accidents. The study highlights that while DST may provide more evening daylight, it shifts the light hours away from children's morning travel times, particularly affecting those who walk, take the bus, or participate in early school programs.

The researchers argue that permanent standard time (ST) would be safer for students, aligning better with their biological and social rhythms, and reducing the number of dark school mornings compared to permanent DST or seasonal time changes.