IAM calls for change to British time zone

The Institute of Advanced Motorists wants changes to British Summer Time (BST) to make our evenings lighter and cut road accidents.

Highlighting DfT figures, the road safety charity reckons that an extra hour of daylight during the evening commute could prevent up to 80 deaths and 200 serious injuries on the roads each year and would ‘align the hours of daylight to the waking and working hours of the vast majority of the population’.

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Citing the road accident figures from last November, the IAM said number of pedestrians killed or seriously injured was 14% higher than the national average, whilst the number of cyclist casualties stood at 5% higher. The rate of motorcyclist casualties also showed a 28% spike following the changing of the clocks that signal darker evenings and the onset of winter.

It’s calling for a three year trial of a new daylight system, as Simon Best, IAM chief executive outlines:

“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.”

What do you think – would you trade some morning light for an easier commute home from work? Have your say below.