There is a cure for the summertime blues

The IAM is calling for the end of British summer time because accident rates increase when the clocks go back in October. Research shows that changing the system could save up to 80 lives each year on Britain’s roads.2

An IAM poll of more than 2000 motorists last winter found that 65 per cent would support a double summertime system – moving the clocks forward by one hour throughout the entire year, while still putting the clocks forward in spring and back in autumn.

There are 17 per cent more pedestrian road casualties in November than the monthly average. This sharp increase is likely to be partly attributed to the winter clock change*.

There is also an increase in the number of motorcycle accidents in November – 41.8 per cent higher than the normal monthly average and 73 per cent higher than in February*1. Numbers of casualties stay relatively constant but the rate per billion miles dramatically increases in autumn.

IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “Changing the current summertime system would save lives. Children especially are more likely to be out and about after school and an extra hour of daylight will make them more visible.

“We want to see a three-year trial of the new daylight system. If the trial period proves the new daylight hours to be a disadvantage, it is clear that the current system should be reinstated. However with convincing evidence of the potential benefits, it seems only right that we pilot a new system.”