The way our clocks are set in the UK means for much of the year, most of us waste a lot of daylight in the early mornings while we’re asleep, and then have to make our way home in the dark that evening. This has a big impact on road safety because of the dangers faced by people on foot and bicycle in dark winter evenings, when they are harder to spot. By changing our clocks for good, we can prevent many needless deaths and injuries. That’s why Brake is part of the Lighter Later campaign.

What needs to be done?

Putting our clocks forward by one hour, year-round, so we’re on GMT+2 in summer and GMT+1 in winter, would be a life-saver, and deliver many benefits. It would make our evenings lighter and give us more daylight during waking hours. It’s estimated this would result in 80 fewer deaths and hundreds fewer serious injuries each year, preventing unnecessary suffering and saving the NHS £138million annually.

It’s also predicted to cut 447,000 tonnes of CO2 pollution, and save us all on our bills, because we would have to put our lights on less. Not to mention a big boost to leisure, tourism, and healthy life-styles because we get a bit more daylight to play with. Find out more at www.lighterlater.org.

What can you do:

Sign the Lighter Later petition
Like Lighter Later on Facebook
Write to your MP urging them to back the campaign
Sign up to Brake’s fortnightly e-bulletin, for updates on our campaigns and how you can help

Campaign news:

Charity renews calls for clocks to be changed year-round to make roads and communities safer, 23.03.12
Daylight Savings Bill stalls at 3rd reading, 27.01.12
Brake responds to the consultation on Changes to Daylight Saving: Implications for Agriculture and Rural Communities, 15.12.11
Brake urges government to change clocks for good, and calls for driver vigilance, 27.10.11