Safety groups step up campaign as nights draw in

Following the start of Greenwich Mean Time, and the loss of an hour's daylight, safety experts are stepping up their campaign to maintain British Summer Time throughout the winter.

Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), spearheading the ‘lighter evenings’ campaign, has carried out research which suggests that every year when the clocks go back road casualties rise, and the effects are worse for vulnerable road users such as children, the elderly, cyclists and motorcyclists.

RoSPA chief executive Tom Mullarkey said: “More pedestrians are killed and injured in the afternoon and early evening than in the morning.

“Changing the system would mean vulnerable road users, like children walking home from school, would have an extra hour of daylight in which to make their journeys. It is time for the issue to come off the shelf and for the full implications to be considered.”

Meanwhile, a report published recently by the National Audit Office looking at road casualty patterns between 2000 and 2007 found a significant increase in accidents following the clocks going back. Ten per cent more collisions killing or injuring a pedestrian took place in the four weeks following the change to GMT than in the last four weeks of British Summer Time.
In addition, a report released this month by the Policy Studies Institute suggests that as many as 20 deaths and serious injuries from road accidents could be saved in Scotland alone by sticking at sticking at GMT+1 all year round.
It explains that far more accidents happen during the evening rush hour than the morning one. Many people are tired after the day’s activity and fatigue plays a big part in car accidents.
Any move to stop the clocks going back would have a knock on positive effect on the environment. It is reported that the extra hour of daylight during the peak electricity usage period could save up to 450,000 tons of carbon emissions, as well as reduce the risks of muggings and crime.
It is suggested that 58% of the general public would favour a move to not turn back the clocks.