‘More evening daylight hours would save lives’

The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) is calling for changes to British Summer Time (BST) to avert the increased deaths and serious injuries that come with the arrival of darker evenings.

In 2011 the number of pedestrians killed or seriously injured in November was 14 per cent more than the monthly average. The number of cyclist casualties was five per cent higher and the rate of motorcycle casualties per vehicle mile was 28 per cent higher.

Now a month into autumn, the IAM is calling for the British time zone to be moved forward by an hour in both winter and summer creating lighter evenings, when crashes are more likely.

The IAM said that DfT figures show that such a change could prevent about 80 deaths and at least 200 serious injuries on the roads each year.

“Making evenings lighter would save lives," said IAM chief executive Simon Best. "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.”