‘Isn’t it outdated?’ | Knoxville residents react to clocks falling back this weekend

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - Fall in East Tennessee brings vibrant changing leaves across the Smokies, cooler temperatures and an annual tradition some might disagree with: turning the clocks back an hour. As daylight saving time officially ends, local residents are once again questioning why clocks are still changed twice a year.

“Isn’t it outdated?” asked Doug Shock while visiting Lakeshore Park. The practice in the United States dates back to World War I, when the federal government introduced it to conserve fuel and electricity for the war effort. More than a century later, many wonder if the original purpose still justifies the disruption.

“The reasons are likely no longer valid, so I think we come up with new reasons to keep it going,” said Jim Michalik, another Lakeshore Park visitor. The debate often centers on whether states or the nation should abandon the bi-annual switch entirely and stick to one permanent standard. “It would be nice to pick one.

I would adjust to the one. I’d prefer daylight saving time,” Michalik said. “If we just picked one, I think we’d all adjust to it.

I think it’d be great.”

Summary of the outlet's own feed. From WVLT (Knoxville), October 31, 2026.