Insurers want clocks put forward

A proposal from Yes Insurance has suggested that instead of reverting to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) throughout the winter, that, instead, the clocks should be set at British Summer Time (BST) +1 which takes account of the greater number of accidents which occur in the evening rush hour, than happen during the dark morning commute.

Yes Insurance also argues that it would cut down on CO2 emissions from lighting and heating homes, as more people would be asleep during the dark mornings.

Paul Purdy, of Yes Insurance, explains: "Accident statistics show that darkness increases the level of risk on the roads and our own experience of making insurance payments on car accidents mirrors this pattern."

When the amount of daylight north of the border decreases Paul Purdy continues: "The same rules regarding the timing of road accidents apply in Scotland as they do in the rest of the UK. However it would be perfectly possible for Scotland to operate on a one hour time difference to the rest of the UK in winter, if that was preferred."

A 2007 thinktank proposal from Cambridge University engineers had also suggested that remaining on BST all year could save 104 road deaths and 450 serious injuries, as well as saving the NHS £200 million each year.

10/01/2008 11:56:34