@ Noirin: "DST allows offices (actually, everything in the tertiary) and schools to keep the lights off one hour more. This means less electricity used so less money spent."
Not in this country. In the UK, during summer, when we are on the "British Summer Time" or DST time, it is sufficiently light between 9am and 5pm that a well-designed building should get enough natural light that electric lighting is hardly needed at all. Lots of public buildings have the lights on a lot of the time when it is not necessary, in my opinion, but DST does not effect this.
(Yes I know, this is basically what Nostradamus said, but I thought I would give my perspective from the UK to back that up)
@ Ghostmaker: "Ok. Firstly, the daylight saving time adjustment means that more rush-hour traffic is in daylight, meaning that there are fewer accidents."
Interesting - this isn't an argument I was aware of. I can't disagree on this one, Ghost, but I might do some reading on this if I get time. Care to suggest any places I might start reading?
"Secondly, the daylight saving time means that people spend more time in the sun, which is beneficial to health."
How? It applies at the brightest time of the year? Surely all it does is mean people spend time in the sun at a slightly different hour?
"Thirdly, it ensures that lighting is used to a minimum."
I don't agree with this, as I have explained above. As an addition, I should point out that in Scotland, where I grew up, BST makes sunrise MUCH later, so that for at least a couple of months in the year, normal daylight does not come around until about 10am, so you actually use lighting MORE in the morning.
"Fourthly, it means that school-age children sleep enough, and so it has a dramatic effect on their learning, and there are long term knock-on benefits to the economy."
Like Toby, I don't understand this at all. Why would they sleep less if time did not get moved about?