Reminder: Fall Time Change Will Happen In A Few Days

Don't forget to set your clocks back by an hour this weekend, as Daylight Saving Time officially takes effect at 2 a.m. On Sunday, November 2.

Is The Fall Time Change Earlier Than Usual?

If it seems unusually early this year, you are right. This will be the second-earliest fall end to Daylight Saving Time since the Federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 extended Daylight Saving time as energy saving measure. Prior to that, the fall time change was slated for the last Sunday in October, but the act changed it to the first Sunday in November.

So this year it falls on the second-earliest date that can happen under federal law.

The same federal law moved the spring time change ahead to the second Sunday in March. Before that the spring time change was on the first Sunday in April.

And by the way, the correct terminology is ''Daylight Saving Time," even though it's often referred to incorrectly as ''Daylight Savings Time."

The twice a year time changes have come under increasing criticism in recent years. Critics say the idea that they save energy in an era of computers and air conditioning is dubious at best. Some studies indicate that accidents and hear attacks increase in the days following the time changes. A Stanford Medicine study that was published last month found that the changes interrupt the natural circadian rhythms leading to higher rates of strokes and obesity.

The study found that staying on either Daylight Saving or Standard time year-round would be healthier than changing the clocks twice a year.

Numerous surveys, including a Gallup poll from earlier this year. in recent years show most Americans want to get rid of the clock changes. But the time changes remain entrenched in federal law for now.