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General Assembly should discuss the time issue
Once again, it’s time for students to return to waiting for school buses in the early morning darkness, as Indiana ‘springs forward’ to Daylight Saving Time. The sun was starting to rise around 7:00 a.m., and children were safer and more visible as they waited to be picked up for school. Now, beginning Sunday, March 11, sunrise will not occur until around 8:00 a.m., and they are plunged back into darkness. With so much emphasis being on the safety of our children, this is an important issue to look into.
The coalition group Hoosiers for Central Time, has been working tirelessly for years to encourage the Indiana legislature to at least discuss the time zone issue. Recently, they had their hopes raised high a bill would be introduced to bring it before the Indiana Senate to be discussed, until this past week, when it was suddenly voted down before even being considered. What a disappointment for this hard working group of Hoosiers.
Besides the safety of our children, there are numerous advantages for Indiana to remain on Central time. Central time would allow all Indiana counties to be in the same time zone, plus be in sync with Illinois and other states. Sunset during summer months would be around 9:00 p.m., instead of 10:00. It doesn’t need to be daylight that late. It’s difficult for adults who rise early to go to work to get enough rest with it still being daylight when they retire at night. It is also a problem getting children to go to bed at a healthy time with the sun still shining. Less electric energy is used when the sun rises earlier in the mornings. The coalition offers many more advantages to being on Central Time on its excellent website at HoosiersforCentralTime.com. Also their Facebook page can be found at Central Time for Indiana. There are 50 Indiana School Boards who have jumped onboard and have signed a petition urging lawmakers to consider the movement toward Central time. This petition, and the list of schools, are on the website.
It may be too late to make changes to our time this year, but if we urge our local representatives to support and consider it next year, it could happen or at least move forward. The Indiana legislature overwhelmingly supported Sunday liquor sales, which only benefits those who purchase liquor. Maybe they should consider this matter that effects every Hoosier. Better yet, why not put it on our election ballots, and let voters make the decision?