The daylight-savings time start date, traditionally the first Sunday of April, would have been April 1. The new daylight savings time start date will now be the second Sunday in March, which is March 11. The daylight-savings time end date, traditionally the last Sunday of October, would have been October 28. The new daylight-savings time end date will now be on the first Sunday in November, which is November 4.

Family or friends in either Hawaii or Arizona? They do not observe DST. Between the dates of March 11 and March 25, there will be a six-hour time difference rather than five hours from Maine to England. Also between those dates will be a seven-hour time difference rather than six hours between Maine and Frankfurt, Paris, Madrid and Milan.

Interested in its history? Daylight-savings was first introduced by none other than Benjamin Franklin. In 1907, the idea was brought up again by an Englishman named Willett who, by noticing shades drawn during the day, thought it was "a waste of daylight." Nothing became of their thoughts until 1916, when England decided during WWI that energy could be saved. The US followed suit, but farmers hated this practice and it was stopped until WWII.

According to the US Department of Transportation, Daylight Savings Time accomplishes three things:

• Saving energy - If it is lighter in the morning, we are less likely to use lights, therefore saving energy.

• Saving lives - Traffic accidents drop dramatically during daylight.

• Crime - Since crime is more likely to be after dark, people are less in danger when waking hours are with the sun.

Remember, Spring forward on March 11; Fall back on November 4.