2 months ago 27th Oct 12:30
Latest research from motor insurer yesinsurance.co.uk indicates that around 100 deaths and 800 serious injuries from road accidents would be prevented each year if the UK stayed on British Summer Time (BST) during the winter.
The UK moved its clocks back one hour on Sunday.
UK road deaths currently stand at just over 3,000 a year, with serious injuries at almost 30,000 a year. The yesinsurance figures indicate that these numbers could fall by between 2 and 3 per cent if the October time change was scrapped.
"Scrapping the October time change would cause a slight increase in road accidents in the darker mornings, but would result in a bigger reduction in accidents in the late afternoon and evenings," said Paul Purdy of yesinsurance.co.uk. Not the best of arguments Mr Purdy.
If the UK did not put clocks back an hour next weekend, drivers would have an extra hour of daylight in the late afternoon, at a time when vehicle and pedestrian numbers are at high levels.
By going a step further and putting clocks forward an hour in winter, the UK would benefit from an even greater reduction in the number of accidents, the insurer said. However, the benefits would decrease in more northern areas of the UK, where the sun sets earlier.
Ah there lies the problem.
More about Scrap October Time Change on page 2
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