Daylight Saving Time Ends: When Does The Sun Set Sunday In California?

CALIFORNIA — “Dark 30” is approaching with the end of daylight saving time. When that change comes Saturday, the sudden shift in daylight hours can affect families, pets and even road safety.

Come 2 a.m. Sunday, Californians will turn their clocks back an hour. Despite stalled legislative efforts to put an end to daylight savings in California, the Golden State continues the practice of changing the clocks twice a year.

Geographically, California is the third largest state in the country, and from north to south, sunrise and sunset times vary greatly from San Diego to Eureka.

In Southern California in cities near the Los Angeles area, sunset is around 4:52 p.m. Sunday, according to Accuweather.com. Monday's sunrise will be around 6:13 a.m.

In Northern California, in cities near San Francisco, sunset will be around 5:06 p.m. Sunday, and sunrise Monday is expected at 6:54 a.m., according to Accuweather.com

The time change affects everyone, from California's pet parents to families with student-athletes who train outside. Cross-country runners, lacrosse and soccer players will find it more difficult without lights in the absence of sunlight, causing changes to practice times and schedules. Students in indoor sports —such as basketball and volleyball— are less affected by time change darkness, as those athletes often train indoors.

Still, darkness can be precarious for commuters, many of whom will leave for work and head home in the dark, rather than pre-dusk or twilight, rarely seeing the sun at home on a weekday.

Drivers, who suddenly find themselves driving in the dark, should also watch carefully for runners and bicyclists and watch for dangers of deer or other wildlife in the roadways.

Motorists should also be cautious during full moons — the next one is the full beaver moon on Nov. 19 — at the time of night when the moon is brightest. That's when wild animals move farther away from their nesting spots and are more likely to dart into traffic on the highway.

California ranks 45th in automobile-animal collisions, according to a State Farm insurance survey released earlier this fall.

According to tips from Stack.com, runners and bicyclists should plan to avoid injuries from time change-induced darkness. Here are some tips for both driver and athlete safety as all appear dark roads ahead.

Drivers:

• Drivers should Slow down, particularly at dusk and dawn.
• If you see one deer, coyote, or even cross-country runner, be prepared for more to cross the road.
• Always buckle up — every trip, every time.
• Use your high beams to see farther, except when there is oncoming traffic.
• Keep your eyes on the road. Scan for potential animals, bicyclists and runners.
• Avoid distractions. Devices or eating might cause you miss a potential hazard.
• If riding a motorcycle, always wear protective gear. Keep focused on the road ahead.

For Athletes:

• Know your route and run trails you are familiar with. Don't risk rolling an ankle on rocks or in potholes.
• Keep your ears open - wearing earbuds can be distracting and if you are running on a road, you should keep volume low or not listen to music after dark.
• Wear something light and reflective - make sure you are visible to drivers.
• Look both ways at crossings and don't run in front of a vehicle where the driver may not notice you.

About 200 people die and 29,000 more are seriously injured every year in deer-automobile collisions, according to published research. Property damage exceeds $1 billion annually, with claims averaging around $2,600 per accident.

Should we still follow the daylight saving time practice?

It seemed possible earlier this year that Sunday, Nov. 6, would roll around, and California residents would be done with the twice-a-year clock changing that goes with the switch back and forth between standard and daylight saving time.

But most Americans will “fall back” at least one more time. Daylight saving time officially ends at 2 a.m. on Nov. 6, and unless something happens in Congress to change it, we’ll return to daylight saving time on Sunday, March 12, 2023.

State legislatures have been volleying the issue back and forth for years.

Most have considered some legislation on daylight saving time, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Since 2015, at least 350 bills and resolutions have been introduced in virtually every state, whether establishing daylight saving or standard as year-round time. California daylight saving time was voter authorized, however legislative action is pending.

An Associated Press/National Opinion Research Center poll in 2019 that found 40 percent of Americans want year-round standard time, compared with 31 percent who prefer daylight saving time all year and 28 percent who want to keep changing their clocks.

Any changes would have to be approved by Congress, which doesn’t know yet what, if anything, it will do about daylight saving time. You may recall the U.S. Senate passed the Sunshine Protection Act earlier this year, delighting a majority of Americans annoyed by the ritual of springing forward and falling back.

As the proposed legislation stands now, year-round daylight saving time would take effect in November 2023, assuming it passes the House and President Joe Biden signs it. Hawaii and, for the most part, Arizona are exempted from the current law on daylight saving time and would be in the proposed legislation as well.

No action has been taken on the House version of the legislation to make daylight saving time permanent, and it’s unlikely to until lawmakers can come to agreement on a fundamental question:

Which should it be, year-round daylight saving time, as the Senate version stipulates, or year-round standard time, which some lawmakers in rural states prefer?