Bring me sunshine

22 October 2012

Bring me sunshine

The IAM is calling for changes to British Summer Time (BST), to give us more daylight hours in the evening.

Bringing the British time zone forward by an hour in both winter and summer, would mean lighter evenings, when crashes are more likely. Figures from the Department for Transport show that changing the daylight hours could prevent about 80 deaths and at least 200 serious injuries on our roads each year.It would also align the hours of daylight to the waking and working hours of the vast majority of the population.

Road casualty rates increase with the arrival of darker evenings. In 2011:

• The number of pedestrians killed or seriously injured in November was 14 per cent more than the monthly average.
• The number of cyclist casualties was 5 per cent higher.
• The rate of motorcycle casualties per vehicle mile was 28 per cent higher.¹ 

IAM chief executive Simon Best said: "Making evenings lighter would save lives.  While an extra hour of daylight would help to make the commute home much safer for all road users, children, cyclists and motorcyclists would benefit most."

"We want to see a three-year trial of the new daylight system. If the trial period proves the new daylight hours have a positive effect on road safety, it is clear that it is the system we should keep. With convincing evidence of the potential benefits, it is only right that we pilot a new system."