Moving clocks forward 'would improve road safety'

Date: 23/3/2012

Putting the clocks forward all year round could improve road safety, it has been claimed.

Over the past year, Brake has been promoting a campaign called Lighter Later, urging the government to permanently move time forward by an hour.

This would mean the evenings are lighter for longer, thus potentially helping to reduce the number of accidents involving pedestrians and cyclists.

In particular, the charity suggested it would make roads safer for children walking home from school in the evenings during the winter months.

Deputy Chief Executive of Brake Julie Townsend said daylight is wasted when people are asleep in the mornings.

"Changing the clocks would mean it stays lighter later in the day, so we have more daylight when most people are awake," she added.

So far, 26,300 people have written to their local MP in support of the idea.

The clocks will go forward by one hour this Sunday (March 25th) to mark the beginning of the British Summer Time, while they will be put back again on October 28th.

Posted by Sarah Bailey