Daylight Saving Time Ends Sunday; Congress Stalls on Permanent Change Bill

Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 1, 2026, when clocks across most of the United States will fall back one hour. The change will result in earlier sunsets and darker evenings through mid-March, when standard time ends and daylight saving time resumes. While the time shift grants an extra hour of sleep, medical experts note that most people do not fully utilize the additional 60 minutes—research indicates people average around 36 minutes of extra sleep rather than the full hour.

California Highway Patrol and AAA warn that the time change poses safety risks for drivers. Morning commuters face hazards from the sun's glare as it rises in the east, while evening drivers encounter increased drowsy-driving risks as darkness arrives earlier. Officer Andre Ortiz of the California Highway Patrol recommends using sunglasses, sun visors, maintaining clean windshields, increasing following distance, and slowing down to mitigate visibility challenges. For evening commuters, authorities stress the importance of staying alert and avoiding driving when tired during the adjustment period.

Doctors recommend using the extra hour to prioritize sleep, which research suggests may offer heart health benefits by lowering blood pressure and reducing physiological stress. Dr. Mike Varshavski advises adjusting sleep schedules gradually in the days before the transition and maintaining consistent wake times, along with regular exercise and morning sunlight exposure to regulate circadian rhythms.

Meanwhile, congressional efforts to make daylight saving time permanent have stalled. The bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act passed the House in July but has not received a Senate vote. President Donald Trump supports the bill, arguing that permanent daylight saving time would increase evening daylight and reduce crime. However, Senator Tom Cotton and other opponents note that previous attempts at year-round daylight saving time were abandoned after "absurdly late sunrises in the winter" prompted public backlash. If the Senate does not vote before lawmakers adjourn, the legislation will expire in early January when the new Congress is seated, requiring reintroduction in 2027.