Permanent summer time? Senator from Massachusetts says, “We have to get it done.”

LOWELL – Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts is continuing his efforts to stop the time change Summer time ends Sunday, November 3rd.

Markey is calling on Congress to make daylight saving time permanent. He shared a video from Lowell on social media Thursday in which he lamented the impending descent into darkness.

“We need daylight saving time all year round”

“It's 3:34 in the afternoon and the sun is shining. But in a week, when Daylight Saving Time ends, the sun will set at that time,” Markey said. “We need daylight saving time all year round…we have to make it happen.”

Sunshine Protection Act by Markey and Florida Senator Marco Rubio approved unanimously the U.S. Senate in 2022, but the House of Representatives has taken no action.

In Massachusetts, car accidents are becoming more common after the clocks go back

In Boston, the sun sets at 4:34 p.m. on the first day after the time change. The earliest sunsets occur in early December at 4:11 p.m

The week after Daylight Saving Time ends is Drowsy Driving Prevention Week in Massachusetts. According to AAA Northeast, changing sleep schedules can lead to more car accidents.

“After the clocks went back in early November, the time between 5 and 6 p.m. is becoming increasingly dangerous,” the AAA said in a statement. “From 2019 to 2023, there was a 38% increase in accidents at 5pm in November (5,931) compared to October (4,267).”

According to AAA, there was also a 159% increase in pedestrian accidents during this time.

Can Massachusetts abolish the time change?

In recent years, lawmakers on Beacon Hill have heard testimony on daylight saving time bills. Some have called for remaining on standard time year-round, while another proposal sought to adopt Massachusetts Leave the Eastern Time Zone and switch to the Atlantic time zone, used in eastern Canada and parts of South America.

Advocates say other Northeastern states would also need to agree to stop the time change before Massachusetts makes any changes.