Daylight saving - I'd like to make a withdrawal please!

Unity

Ok, we can all feel it approaching - the weekend when the clocks go back, so why do we do it? . What possible reason do we have for making the already dark evenings even darker? It's nonsensical :rolleyes:. They call it 'Daylight Saving', but who or what are we saving it for and when can I make a withdrawal to use it please?

Can anyone remember the year the government decreed that just for once, we wouldn't do it?:T

I remember being at school at the time and although it meant going to school whilst it was still dark, there was a great trade in reflective strips to wear to get you noticed . Everyone was prepared so we all took a bit more care crossing roads and I don't remember anyone coming to any harm. It was certainly great to come home at the end of the school day and still have daylight.

I've suffered with SAD (winter blues) since I was a child and this one year made such a difference I have remembered it ever since.

So maybe it's time for a referendum - it won't make a big hole in the economy, but it will certainly make the majority of the population feel better.

If anyone can recall the actual year we didn't put the clocks back - please enlighten me as I can't even find it on the Web . I do remember though, the one year the government got something right!

Chester85

I'm sure the people of Scotland and the North of England will be delighted to be plunged into darkness for longer periods of time

The Govt trialled it for a few years (68-72) but found the pro's and cons of keeping BST not worth it.

vikingaero

I doubt much would happen when we're governed by a Scottish PM and Ministers who also rely on Scottish MPs for their power in Parliament.

Careful_with_that_Axe

Given that we have very much a 24-hour economy now and transport etc has vastly improved since this initiative was introduced, is there any back up showing a demonstrable saving for us now as opposed to when it was introduced?
Our inate need for Vitamin D has been recognised and a large part of our levels are derived from natural sunlight. SAD is also widely recognised.

I agree it is time for this to be revisited to establish whether it suits our modern needs.

geordieracer

It was all to do with the farmers wasnt it?

fiddiwebb

A couple of reasons given here.............

Summer time all year round?

Some people advocate that summer time is kept all year round but this is opposed by other groups on the grounds that in the north this would have social disadvantages including, for instance, the problem that in the far north-west of Scotland sunrise would occur at about 10.00 in the middle of winter and over much of the north small children would have to travel to/from school in darkness.
Many countries around the world use daylight saving time, including the USA, Russia, most of Europe and the Commonwealth.
The main reasons given for the use of summer time are the saving in power given by the longer hours of daylight in the evenings and the increased useful daylight leisure time available to those who work

Unity

Chester85 wrote: »

I'm sure the people of Scotland and the North of England will be delighted to be plunged into darkness for longer periods of time

The Govt trialled it for a few years (68-72) but found the pro's and cons of keeping BST not worth it.

I actually live in the far North of England (see just below my avatar) and I did when this was trialled - and I still maintain it was better to have the lighter evenings. We are not being plunged into darkness for longer periods - it's dark for as long as it's dark .

RichyRich

I like the night drawing in earlier; it's part of winter.

I think it's only called Daylight Saving Time (DST) in the States. I think it's Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and British Summer Time (BST) here.

custardy

wouldnt bother me,the plus would be all those flat service might work all year rather than the 6 summer/winter the timers set for

SallyForth_2

It's the way round, I don't understand. What is the advantage of British Summar Time? Surely there can't be much that 1 hour would make a difference to. I say stay on GMT.

RichyRich

SallyForth wrote: »

It's the way round, I don't understand. What is the advantage of British Summar Time? Surely there can't be much that 1 hour would make a difference to. I say stay on GMT.

But then you wouldn't get the lovely long summer's evenings