Plans to move UK to European time zone edge a step closer. Road Safety Affected?

[Mr E]

I too used to bus, walk or cycle to school. I've lived in rural areas for most of my life (and haven't suffered educationally for it either...) and so have my two kids. We have a excellent school in the village that both went to. Master E (16) now goes on a bus supplied bt West Sussex to go to his secondary school (as he has done for 5 years), whilst Miss E walks or rides.

Dryce is quite right - the danger comes mainly from those that know them already. What we've ended up with is a generation or two if kids who have missed out on a lot of formative experiences becasue of their parents irrational and overwrought fears.

As for moving the time... will we suddenly find our selves in southern europe if we moved to CET? Will the weather dramatically improve? Will the sea be warmer? Will it be any less rainy then now? So how will life change, and why will this sudden influx of tourists suddenly want to come here because of an extra hour of daylight at the end of the day?

 

[renault12ts]

A very valid point you make. Food for thought

A totally invalid, nonsensical point. Where is the evidence that things are worse now?

 

[flango]

and why will this sudden influx of tourists suddenly want to come here because of an extra hour of daylight at the end of the day?

When they could go to Sweden and have 24 hours of it

 

[renault12ts]

Really? I am paranoid that I think kids get abused in this country?

You are indeed.

Not that they get abused, that's a given. But that its worse now than ever before, and that it happens routinely on the way to school. Every yummy mummy thinks she is the first to allow her children go to and from school....and there's a pervert round every corner. Show me the stats and then I may think you have an argument.

 

[renault12ts]

My point is I live in the middle of now where. While my children are young, it would be irresponsible of me to let them use a public bus when their mother can quite easily drive them. Also reducing the risk of them doing stupid while waiting for the bus. When they get older and more street wise it wont be an issue.

But that's a different argument than your first one. And yes, if your children are very young...why not.

Though I got a country bus to school from the age of 6. Don't say there were less cars on the roads on those days. It only ever took one car to knock a child down. I witnessed a school crossing patrol lady being flung 25 yards after being hit by a car...in the the mid 60s.

 

[gIzzE]

A totally invalid, nonsensical point. Where is the evidence that things are worse now?

Parks and streets are empty these days, more and more kids go by car so less and less of them together walking or bus stops. Therefore it is not as safe as it was for kids to find their own way to school. Admittedly brought on by the those same parents that want the streets to be safer through some unjust fear.

For me though it is not so much kiddy fiddlers, more the muggers and gangs that are the real concern. It is amazing how many kids get robbed all the time these days.

 

[gIzzE]

As for moving the time... will we suddenly find our selves in southern europe if we moved to CET? Will the weather dramatically improve? Will the sea be warmer? Will it be any less rainy then now? So how will life change, and why will this sudden influx of tourists suddenly want to come here because of an extra hour of daylight at the end of the day?

I think the big difference is the fact it will still be warm outside till 11pm, you will be able to do more outdoor events, eat outside, coffee shops will serve later on the street etc.
Im this country as soon as the sun goes in it goes cold and we do not have a family based culture when it comes to going out in the evening over here, you wouldn't take your kids in many pubs in the UK at night, but you may sit in the pubs garden.

 

[Mr E]

I think the big difference is the fact it will still be warm outside till 11pm, you will be able to do more outdoor events, eat outside, coffee shops will serve later on the street etc.
Im this country as soon as the sun goes in it goes cold and we do not have a family based culture when it comes to going out in the evening over here, you wouldn't take your kids in many pubs in the UK at night, but you may sit in the pubs garden.

You've hit the nail on the head - we don't have a family-oriented culture and so whether it's slightly warmer at 2100 will make not one bit of difference.

Is one hour going to make so much difference? Events-wise, you can't make noise after a certain time anyway, so that won't be any different. We don't have the street cafe culture either - I can't think of many places in the where people sit outside and eat/drink in any significant number (but I'm probably very wrong on that).

I honestly don't think it will make the sightest difference. From a personal perspective it won't make too much difference (apart from losing an hour's timezone leverage from my Indian colleagues, and my US calls starting/finishing later and so making my working day an hour longer) and so I can't see any realy argument for or against it.

 

[davethemus]

Which would be fine if there wasn't sick people out there wanting to abuse children....

the voice of reactionary britian.

 

[snoop51]

My point is I live in the middle of now where. While my children are young, it would be irresponsible of me to let them use a public bus when their mother can quite easily drive them. Also reducing the risk of them doing stupid while waiting for the bus. When they get older and more street wise it wont be an issue.

How do you propose they get "streetwise" if you drive them everywhere? No doubt they are petrified of going out by themselves driven by your own fears.
My children have made it all the way to 17 & 19 yrs old, whilst either walking to school latterly or catching the bus from where we used to live. Neither of them have been abused, maybe my son had a couple of fights on the way home but in general managed to escape unscathed. They have learnt something your children never will (unless you learn to let them off the apron strings) which is "streetsmarts"

As for the time change I have no problem with it but then I do live in the South East. I leave for work at 5am on Mondays and 0630am the rest of the week, I'd be quite happy to have longer lighter evenings though!

 

[Spinal]

I would fully support moving the clocks... would let me climb longer in the evenings before I freeze, get home before it's pitch dark and generally would make me feel a lot better...

That said, I also support banning parents from driving their kids to school... I feel that the time the kids spend on the schoolbus is quite beneficial to them learning a thing or two about social interactions and the real world...

M.

 

[w124nut]

Noon at Greenwich is at midday when the sun is directly overhead - a geographical fact. Here in Taunton it is about 20 minutes later and I really don't care.

If people don't like the times of sunrise and sunset where they live, then they should stop whinging and bloody well move to somewhere where the times suit.

As for children going to school, horses for courses. Firstly, advantage should be taken of the facilities provided but if none available, then walking or private transport is the answer.

 

[Gawdi]

Why are the Scots getting worked up about that??

Why would it bother them if we changed our clocks??

Because they're Scots, and miserable, and 1 of them at the nothern tip of Scotland would incur an addition £5 per annum on their electricity bill for additional morning lighting

 

[neilrr]

Because they're Scots, and miserable, and 1 of them at the nothern tip of Scotland would incur an addition £5 per annum on their electricity bill for additional morning lighting

 

[Bellow]

Because they're Scots, and miserable,

Enough.

 

[219]

Young children using public buses in my mind is not a great idea .

Who said anything about PUBLIC buses ?

Most kids go to school on the SCHOOL BUS , along with other kids , and driven by a driver who has been checked out through DISCLOSURE .

There are probably many more abusive parents than abusive bus drivers .

My son will go to school on the school bus when he is old enough.

 

[219]

I think many forget there is no buses for most people.

The only bus which comes our way is the school bus .

 

[219]

This is a hugely London / South East corner of England "centric" driven campaign. Anyone who thinks road accidents won't go up in Scotland with a change to Central European Time is frankly talking out of their a*** . In winter darkness equates to low temperatures. So our misguided /misinformed friends in the "balmy" South or should that be "barmy" South are advocating that we in Scotland should all commute to work at sub zero temperatures- icy roads - frozen windscreens - darkness +lots of reflected light+ lots of pedestrians/drivers going to work or school = accidents waiting to happen.
I remember the panic issuing of reflective jackets and armbands to armies school kids and the sheer grinding misery of defrosting your car in total darkness before the commute to work the last time. It was sheer bl**dy purgatory! If this goes ahead there are only 2 sensible choices either retain the present arrangement in Scotland of putting the clocks back an hour in October or alternatively simply changing the hours of the conventional working day and school in Scotland by an hour. In other words the majority of Scotland "opens for business" an hour later than the rest of the UK. Anything else is frankly lunacy.

If London try to force this on the rest of us , they will be handing a lot of votes to the SNP and bringing us closer to independence .

 

[219]

My point is I live in the middle of now where. While my children are young, it would be irresponsible of me to let them use a public bus when their mother can quite easily drive them. Also reducing the risk of them doing stupid while waiting for the bus. When they get older and more street wise it wont be an issue.

I live 'in the middle of nowhere' too . The nearest village is three miles away .

We don't have public buses : the nearest a bus route comes to us is just less than two miles .

However , for all children more than a certain distance from school , the council lays on a SCHOOL BUS to take children to and from school - in our case a minibus serves the nearby farms and other isolated houses with school age children . This is normal and available everywhere in Scotland .

 

[219]

If you want to run on a different time clock to suit you (as people in the S. of England do) then go right ahead. Knock yourselves out.

We are happy with the current set up and are not the ones proposing change .

If you 'southerners' want to change YOUR clocks - go ahead .

But leave ours alone .