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

[Bellow]

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.

The stuff I can recall seeing in the 80s during a previous argument on the matter suggested that road accidents were worse in the afternoon/evening than in the morning and the inference was that the clocks moving forward was beneficial.

Is nearer the truth. The cold that accompanies darkening acts faster than the rising sun can be of benefit in the morning. No matter what you do with the clocks, in Scotland, we will always be getting out of bed in the dark - but with at least the chance of getting the kids home safely before the roads start to ice over unpredictably and everyone driving home is tired after a days work.

In rural Northern areas particularly, daylight as late in the day as possible is prized, the attitude being one of getting the days work done as early as possible and dealing with the (frequently outdoor) domestic chores on returning, for which light is an asset.

 

[219]

School Buses you know those big yellow things you see in the movies

And on the roads of Ayrshire .

 

[ringway]

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

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

But leave ours alone .

Fair dinkum.

 

[flango]

And on the roads of Ayrshire .

You are right Derek, Scotland have it sorted and run the type of model I referred to in my original post. I remember them well from my time in Ayr & Tarbolton

 

[grober]

Is nearer the truth. The cold that accompanies darkening acts faster than the rising sun can be of benefit in the morning. No matter what you do with the clocks, in Scotland, we will always be getting out of bed in the dark - but with at least the chance of getting the kids home safely before the roads start to ice over unpredictably and everyone driving home is tired after a days work.

Unfortunately the facts don't bear out this assertion as this diagram from 7(l) Daily and Annual Cycles of Temperature illustrates. London is actually 52 degrees north latitude-- Edinburgh is around 56 --Aberdeen 57+

I would draw attention to the point of inflexion on the 21rst Dec graph at the 8 hrs am mark [sunrise] compared to the gradual gradient at 16hrs [4pm] Obviously a change of 1 hour each way at "8"=nominal sunrise in the morning can make a much bigger difference to surface temperatures.

 

[MOCAŠ]

And on the roads of Ayrshire .

London's more compact alternative (as viewed from an SLK ):

 

[Deadhead]

I've always thought that the last experiment shouldn't have been abandoned. I'd much rather get up and go to work in darkness if it means an extra hour daylight in my personal time at the end of the day.

In winter our scottish friends seem to live in perpetual gloom [not trying to be metaphysical here] so I really can't see why changing the clocks would make much of a real difference. And if enough scots thought it did, well they've got a measure of independence - so why can't they have their own time.

 

[Dieselman]

I've always thought that the last experiment shouldn't have been abandoned. I'd much rather get up and go to work in darkness if it means an extra hour daylight in my personal time at the end of the day.

Wasn't the reason given that people feel more like getting up and working if it's lighter and it's safer for school children as drivers tend to be more dozy in the dark first thing.

 

[Deadhead]

Wasn't the reason given that people feel more like getting up and working if it's lighter and it's safer for school children as drivers tend to be more dozy in the dark first thing.

Yes, that was the argument. But I'm sure that I've seen some stats that say that many more road accidents happen to kids in the afternoon than in the morning - people tired after work, liquid lunches, kids boisterous after school, and so on.

 

[LTD]

In winter our scottish friends seem to live in perpetual gloom [not trying to be metaphysical here] so I really can't see why changing the clocks would make much of a real difference.

How many years have you lived in Scotland ?

The only real gloom up here is the bull**** we generally have to listen to from some people in the South of The United Kingdom.

 

[Dieselman]

Yes, that was the argument. But I'm sure that I've seen some stats that say that many more road accidents happen to kids in the afternoon than in the morning - people tired after work, liquid lunches, kids boisterous after school, and so on.

All the Yummy Mummies parking all over the yellow zig zags....

 

[Deadhead]

How many years have you lived in Scotland ?

None actually. Its a bit too cold and dark in the winter for my liking. Especially in the afternoons.

 

[renault12ts]

Yes, that was the argument. But I'm sure that I've seen some stats that say that many more road accidents happen to kids in the afternoon than in the morning - people tired after work, liquid lunches, kids boisterous after school, and so on.

Au contraire... in 1968 through to 1971 BST continued through the winter. Although there was an increase in deaths in the morning, this greatly out weighed by the large decrease in deaths in the afternoon.

 

[LTD]

None actually. Its a bit too cold and dark in the winter for my liking. Especially in the afternoons.

So you are happy for it to get colder and darker for us then ?

Thanks ...............

 

[Dieselman]

So you are happy for it to get colder and darker for us then ?

Thanks ...............

Don't worry...Global warming will make things better for you...

 

[kusanku]

Does this topic not come up twice a year, every year, with exactly the same points being stated for and against? Unless something new comes up that for some reason none of us have considered, I doubt it will ever amount to much more than a bi-annual media exercise.

 

[MOCAŠ]

Don't worry...Global warming will make things better for you...

Until then, there's always the porridge...

 

[renault12ts]

Does this topic not come up twice a year, every year, with exactly the same points being stated for and against? Unless something new comes up that for some reason none of us have considered, I doubt it will ever amount to much more than a bi-annual media exercise.

What's new is that a private members bill is seriously being given consideration. And double summertime has only ever been used in the second world war and 1947.

 

[Frankie]

I don't think any of it makes sense. The time shouldn't change at all, winter comes along,it gets dark. Just something you have to deal with. I often start 4am,it's dark,you drive according to the conditions, if people can't do that they shouldn't be on the roads. It's almost as if an aspect of the seasons is being taken away, I've never liked the clocks changing.

 

[Dieselman]

Until then, there's always the porridge...

I think Scots have it lucky..they can have a sunshine holiday anytime they like.

At Christmas my Neighbour was out in the garden in a bikini topping up her Glasgae tan...