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Daylight Savings Time Change

November 1, 2011 by · Comments Off on Daylight Savings Time Change 

Daylight Savings Time Change, Last week, the clocks went back in the UK, which ignited the debate on daylight saving time. The Government is considering a three-year trial of a new system, designed to provide more light at night, which would see the UK adopt Central European Time. In other words, the clocks would be located in what is now GMT in winter and “double summer time” a new introduction.

What does this mean for British cyclists? On the negative side, there would be more days in which we make our trips in the morning in the dark. But the advocates of change argue that because drivers tend to be more alert in the morning, would be a reduction of accidents.

On the positive side, the proposed change would be huge increase in the number of days that would be able to house a bike or go for a lap after working during the day. It would also increase the hours of daylight in the middle of summer, which means you could ride without lights beyond 10pm.

Brake road safety charity supports the proposals, saying it would reduce deaths and serious injuries by an estimated 450 per year. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents has a similar view, saying that 80 lives would be saved and 212 serious injuries prevented each year.

CTC National cycling organization is in favor of the bill, as it is called in to investigate the pros and cons of the issue. They are unequivocally behind the change, however – mainly because of the risk of injury related to the ice for travelers winter morning.

Political machinations

Daylight Saving Time, also known as summer time was introduced in 1916 to make the evening light for longer. Under the current system, the clocks in the UK are set to Greenwich Mean Time throughout the winter and then driven for an hour between the last Sunday in March and last Sunday of October.

In a bill private member, Rebecca Harris Conservative MP has called for a review of the potential costs of moving the clock one hour forward. Harris holds the switch on the light of day more are added at night where most people see the benefit, and not have the light of day early in the morning that “many of us waste in bed.” The measure is also likely that economic benefits.

Prime Minister David Cameron has said he would seriously consider the proposals, but that change can only be done with the support of the entire United Kingdom. Ministers have written to their counterparts in Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to reach agreement on a three-year trial.

In the past, the Scottish government has vehemently opposed this change, arguing it would lead to months of dark mornings, especially in the north. With a spokesman saying there is no case for change, it seems unlikely that national support will be forthcoming in the short term. Many farmers also oppose the change.

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