Silly study: Steep economic impact for changing clocks

Even though we just sprang forward, losing the hour in the wee hours of a Sunday morning means we fall back in a lot of ways this week.

Ask anyone who had to get up early yesterday morning, it may be the hardest day to get out of bed and go to work.

One fifth of the worlds' population - that number is slightly smaller because Saskatchewan doesn't participate - changed their clocks over the weekend. Losing the hour may seem like nothing, but this week is actually one of the most dangerous weeks of the year.

Traffic accidents are 8.6 per cent more likely, people are 3.9 per cent more likely to have a heart attack plus fatal car crashes, workplace accidents and suicides are all more likely, according to different studies collected by the Los Angeles Times.

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A 2004 report in the journal Accident Analysis and Prevention found staying on daylight saving time all year would prevent 195 drivers and passengers plus 171 pedestrians from dying in the U.S. alone.

But it isn't just health incidents that are a cost, there is a significant cost to the economy because of "cyberloafing", a study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology found. The study of people in Singapore reads, We "demonstrate that the shift to Daylight Saving Time results in a dramatic increase in cyberloafing behavior at the national level."

When people are tired at work they are more likely to slack off and surf the Internet.

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There is a possibility if you are reading this article, you are cyberloafing, but that doesn't mean you should stop. You are definitely not alone. The U.S. economy loses 433 million dollars as a result of yawn-induced economic costs, according to the SleepBetter.org Lost-Hour Economic Index. The index ranks 361 U.S. cities on a per capita dollar amount lost because of the time change. Topping the list is Morgantown, West Virginia, which loses $3.37 per person. The national average is $1.65.

Some propose we stay on daylight saving year round and some think this drowsiness can be solved just by having an extra cup of coffee or tea for the first few days of this week. I, personally deal with the extra tiredness by just thinking of the benefit - an extra hour of daylight in the evening.

(Reuters photo)

Silly Studies is an occasional feature that will take a closer look at an unusual, recently-released study or survey. It is not intended to mock real science.