CENTRAL TIME COALITION

The mission of the Central Time Coalition is to promote the allocation of available sunlight and darkness in a manner that provides the greatest health, safety and well-being to the citizens of Indiana.

CENTRAL TIME – INDIANA’S RIGHT TIME

In 2006 Hoosiers living in Indiana’s 80 Eastern counties experienced a major shift in the sunlight schedule when Eastern Daylight Time was adopted. Instead of sunrise at 7:15 in November, it rises at 8:15. Instead of darkness by 9 pm in mid-summer, it doesn’t get dark until 10 pm. How has this affected the health, safety and well-being of Indiana’s citizens? (Click here) To read a brief “fact sheet” summary, or continue to read below for more in-depth examination of the issues. If these facts concern you, please sign the petition.

ADULT ONLINE PETITION (for ages 18 and over) Click on this link below and follow the directions, Click Here

STUDENT ONLINE PETITIONS (for students under 18 years old) Click on this link and follow directions. Click Here

WHAT FACTS WOULD A STUDY REVEAL?

  • In today’s economy, financial transactions are instantaneously transmitted worldwide through e-technology. Being in the Eastern Time Zone is no longer a benefit, however, the 3-hour time difference with the West Coast is a major inconvenience in conducting direct communications and it causes significant jet lag for business and pleasure travelers. California is the 6th largest economy in the world.
  • Does observing Daylight Saving Time benefit Indiana’s economy? Yes - we think it does by eliminating the bi-annual confusion about what time it is in Indiana - but it should be Central Daylight Time and not Eastern Daylight Time.
  • Hoosiers were recently rated the 8th most tired in the US. Is the Eastern Time’s television schedule a culprit? In the Eastern Time Zone, “prime time” programs, late news and nationally broadcast live events (NFL, NCAA, World Series, Olympics, etc.), are broadcast one hour later than they would be if Indiana was in its correct Central Time Zone.
  • Morning darkness is unsafe for students. (click here). On Central Time the latest sunrise would be 7:15 and the majority of travel to and from school would occur in daylight. 51 Indiana school boards have signed petitions in favor of restoring Indiana to its correct Central Time Zone. (click here)
  • School delays wasted millions of tax money in the Eastern Time counties last year. (click here). On Central Time, school delays in Indiana could be cut in half and some could be eliminated.
  • 55,000 Indiana students are chronic absentees every year, the majority due to truancy. Excessive morning darkness encourages truancy resulting in students falling behind and dropping out of school. 630,000 adult Hoosiers do not have a high school degree or its equivalent. (click here)
  • Indiana’s teens have the 2nd highest suicide attempt rate in the US. Eastern Time’s sunlight schedule promotes chronic sleep deprivation, which leads to depression and discouragement. (click here)
  • Late sunsets in summer diminishes darkness-dependent experiences that have been part of our Hoosier heritage – July 4th fireworks, evening concerts, campfires, youth and family camping, outdoor movies, seeing the stars and lightning bugs. Late sunsets make bedtime difficult
    Geographically every square inch of Indiana belongs in the Central Time Zone. (click here)

SCHOOL SHOULDN’T START BEFORE 9:30 A.M.
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) with membership of 62,000 pediatricians, released a policy statement in Aug. 2014 stating that schools for teens should start no earlier than 8:30 a.m. For Indiana’s Eastern Time Zone school districts to meet AAP’s recommendation, schools would need to start no earlier than 9:30 a.m.  (Click here)

INDIANA TIME ZONE WHITE PAPER - This thoroughly researched and documented white paper examines the history of Indiana time decisions and raises major questions about the processes. To access this report go to: http://sites.google.com/site/stjosephtimezone/

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