Daylight Savings Time 2012: When to Turn Clocks Forward for Spring Time Change

Spring is near and that means daylight savings time will begin soon. At 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 11, 2012, nearly all states in the U.S. will follow the spring forward routine, and time will be moved forward by one hour.

This year, daylight saving time (DST) will run from March 11 until Nov. 4, when clocks need to be turned back one hour.

But for now, U.S. residents, aside from those in Arizona, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, will observe the time change, and move their clocks one hour ahead on Sunday at 2 a.m.

Daylight Savings also gives way to spring, will begins shortly after March 11 at 1:14 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, March 20, 2012.

Daylight Savings Time has changed over the past few years since Benjamin Frankling created the idea. According to the U.S. Energy Act of 2005, clocks which were usually turned back on the first Sunday of April are now turned back on the second Sunday in March since 2007. Similarly, the fall back portion would change from the last Sunday of October to the first Sunday of November, where time will be reverted to standard on Nov. 4 in 2012.

While Daylight Savings Time gives way to longer days, and a few extra hours of sunlight, turning clocks ahead one hour costs one hour of sleep, so plan ahead.

It should be noted that some U.S. states and territories do not participate in Daylight Savings Time. . Arizona, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands will not observe the time change and remain on normal schedule. In fact, only about 75 countries observe at least on Daylight Savings Time ritual each year, according to TimeandDate.com which has a full list of all countries that observe DST.

So don't forget to change your clocks forward one hour at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 11, 2012. And lucky for you, if you have a smartphone, no need to worry!