Ending daylight saving time: good news for Catalonia?

The European Commission’s (EC) proposal to abolish daylight saving time has been welcomed by Catalan group Reforma Horària, which is fighting for “positive change” in society through the reformation of traditional daily time use in the country.

Although the civic organization is in favor of ending the practice, they would rather keep the clocks set to winter hours instead of summer as the EC proposes.

Reforma Horària’s promoter Fabian Mohedano has stated that putting an end to the changing of the clocks would be beneficial to people’s health, among other things.

Speaking to Europa Press, Mohedano highlighted that much has changed since daylight saving time was first approved in Spain in 1974.

Benefits

Other benefits include a reduction in road accidents as well as avoiding a desynchronization of the circadian rhythms of children and the elderly caused by the biannual adjusting of the time, Mohedano told the Spanish media outlet.

Various studies have indicated that the day after the changing of the clockwork and road accidents increase. There is also a rise in strokes and heart attacks, among other serious health problems, coinciding with the biannual practice.

One such study states that an increase in heart attacks “especially in the first week after the spring shift” could possibly be caused by “sleep deprivation, circadian misalignment and environmental conditions.”

A dated practice?

If EU member states and the European Parliament are in favor of the EC motion, it would mean an end to changing watches and clocks twice a year in keeping with the decades-old habit.

Jean-Claude Juncker, the EC president, announced on Friday that “if people want it, we will do it.”