ILLINOIS (WBC/DANA COMM.) — It is time to set your clocks back one hour this weekend as daylight saving time comes to an end.
Germany was the first to adopt daylight saving time on May 1, 1916, during World War 1 as a way to conserve fuel. The United States adopted daylight saving time in 1918.
Daylight saving time has evolved over the years. It now starts at 2 a.m. on the second Sunday of March and ends at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday in November.
The latest change was to accommodate children so they could trick-or-treat in more daylight, among other interests.
At least seven bills have been introduced in the Illinois General Assembly regarding daylight saving time.
Each would either make it permanent in Illinois or make the state exempt from the federal Uniform Time Act.
At least four Illinois lawmakers have filed legislation in the last year to make daylight saving time permanent in the state.
Under federal law, states must receive congressional approval to adopt year-round daylight saving time.
In the meantime, the Office of the State Fire Marshall is reminding Illinois residents to test, inspect and change the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide alarms while turning their clocks back this weekend.
The National Fire Protection Association reports between 2014 and 2018, almost 3 out of every 5 home fire deaths in the country resulted in homes with no smoke alarms or non-working smoke alarms. Dead batteries caused 26% of the smoke alarm failures.
