Should we put up with this daylight robbery?
06/11/2007
Several readers have expressed their concern about the continuing practice of putting the clocks back at the end of British Summertime, and it seems you are not alone.
The South West Local Government Association (SWLGA) is calling on the Government to renew the debate on whether to adopt what they call "Double Summer Time (DST)". If introduced, it would mean that the clocks would be set one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) during the winter and two hours ahead in the summer - with the result of lighter evenings but darker mornings.
Mrs Jean Osbourne from Dorset, wrote: "When the clocks go back one hour, we older people suffer a big reduction in the quality of our lives. We have to scurry home to get off the streets before dark, and shut ourselves inside throughout the long, dreary winter months.
"It is well established that more road accidents occur at twilight and lighting up time time. And women leaving work and crossing through dark car parks are so vulnerable and often attacked by unscrupulous people. Even a shortening of this winter light-up time would be welcomed by so many - and the savings in energy would be tremendous. In America there are many time zones and life goes on quite satisfactorily."
And the SWLGA echo Mrs. Osbourne's sentiments. They point out that the possible benefits of switching to DSTacross the country include:
• Reduction in road accidents: particularly concerning children coming home from school. 80% of road accidents involving children occur on their way back from school, in part because they tend to go to after-school clubs before travelling home. A Government report in 1998 found that there would be around 450 fewer deaths and serious injuries if double summer time were adopted. 211 children died on the South West’s roads in 2005.
• Increased revenue for tourism. Tourism accounts for roughly 10% of the South West’s GDP and tourism industry leaders have claimed that adopting DST could mean an extra £100 million for the industry in the region.
• Reduced energy consumption: Climate change is a major concern for the South West and a study by Cambridge University estimated that carbon emissions could be cut by 170,000 tonnes annually at no cost to GDP.
• Increased participation in outdoor activities: Young and old alike would have a greater opportunity to take part in outside activities offered by longer daylight. With increasing concerns about rising obesity it is important that there are more opportunities to participate in physical activities, such as outdoor winter sports.
• Improved wellbeing: It is estimated that 2.5% of the population suffer from some form of depression, and there are concerns that dark evenings can exacerbate this. In contrast, greater exposure to daylight is likely to increase general wellbeing.
For more information about the SW LGA got to the link below.
And if you have views on whether the clocks should - or shouldn't - go back, email editorial@maturetimes.co.uk