Permanent DST would give Indy more than a month of dark mornings
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Prepare for more than a month of dark morning commutes, Indy. It'll be just one side effect prompting renewed debate as the U.S. moves closer to making daylight saving time permanent.
Why it matters: We'd see sunrise after 9am for more than 35 days with permanent daylight saving time, compared to none right now.
The big picture: The change would affect far more than clocks, possibly impacting sleep, commuting, school schedules and religious observance.
- The Sunshine Protection Act, approved by the House last week, would keep clocks shifted one hour ahead, meaning later sunrises and sunsets year-round.
- Most Americans want to end the biannual clock change.
- Proponents, including U.S. Rep. Erin Houchin (R-Ind.), argue the change will provide more light during the workday, lead to more time spent outside and provide a boost to the economy.
Reality check: Making this shift — if the bill passes the Senate — could have massive consequences for Americans.
- "A permanent move to DST would likely increase the population's risk for chronic diseases for years to come" because sunlight is key to health and sleep, Adrian Pristas, director of sleep medicine at Hackensack Meridian Health, told Axios in an email.
Zoom in: Central Indiana would see sunrise after 9am from mid-December to late January, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association.
- Plus, the number of days with a sunrise after 8am would nearly triple, from 53 days now to more than 140, according to NOAA.
- This would mean darker commutes and thousands of kids going to school in the dark.
Between the lines: Darker hours could lead to increased depression, sadness and fatigue, research suggests.
- It could also make winter feel longer, experts say.
Go deeper: The hidden consequences of permanent daylight saving time