Clocks go back to GMT tonight!

[c1973]

Apparently because the Scottish media portrayed the last trial of permanent BST as a Sassanach plot to rob them of an hour's daylight and to murder their children as they walked to school! Hence a lot of complaints from that part of the world, but few from the English (except maybe from a handful of professional Northerners!).

:rofl:

This made me laugh heartily, very entertaining post. :thup:

Btw, del, how do you define a 'professional Northerner'?

 

[delc]

I remember it well, leaving home with fluorescent tabard on and reflective bands on my jacket sleeves as I walked to school. It was a three year experiment that was fairly inconclusive.

By the way, published figures for early morning accidents gave a figure of over 900 additional killed or seriously injured over the time of the experiment. A not insignificant number.

As I remember it, more than compensated for by fewer accidents in the late afternoon and early evening.

 

[delc]

Btw, del, how do you define a 'professional Northerner'?

You know, the sort who 'lived in cardboard box in middle of t' road', with a permanent chip on his shoulder!

 

[Sweep]

I hated it going dark earlier when I was a kid and I hate it now, but I think this needs looking at again, as things have changed.
The cost of electricity is a major expense for most household budgets and the fact is that most people are at home more in the evening than in the morning, when they rush out to work etc. For many there is an hour where they wouldn't have to use so much electricity.
I understand about the kids issue, but we really do have to accept that they are just one part of society, one that has to be protected of course, but you can't do everything around them. If them going to school in daylight is so important, then start school an hour later. Except that will upset the 4x4 brigade who take their kids to school because none of them walk to school anymore anyway.
I do seem to remember an experiment in the '60's when I was a little kid, when they advanced GMT and BST by an hour (I think). It was called double summertime (in the summer) I think and it was great, especially in the summer when it never seemed to go dark. And in the winter I guess I walked to school in the dark and amazingly, I am still here.

 

[Fyldewhite]

I always think this subject is approached from the wrong way. Always an issue when the dark nights are setting in and "why do we do this?" etc etc.

At the end of the day, winter in Britain is a pretty dull affair with only about 7/8 hours or less of daylight and we argue about how best to apportion this in the "day". There just isn't enough and it really isn't an argument worth getting into.....staying on BST will suit some but not others but it will still be dark most of the time however you cut it.

What the argument should be about is why on earth in the summer months when there is loads of daylight hours do we waste a couple of them by having the sun come up at 3:30 or 4 am when most of the population are in bed until at least 6??? By having "Double summer time" ie leaving winter as it is. Or going to CET (UKIP would love that LOL), most of us would have daylight from around 5 or 5:30 in the morning until 11 to 12 at night.

Massive energy savings, more time for recreation and leisure (inc golf) everyone really is a winner and we don't do it!

 

[delc]

I always think this subject is approached from the wrong way. Always an issue when the dark nights are setting in and "why do we do this?" etc etc.

At the end of the day, winter in Britain is a pretty dull affair with only about 7/8 hours or less of daylight and we argue about how best to apportion this in the "day". There just isn't enough and it really isn't an argument worth getting into.....staying on BST will suit some but not others but it will still be dark most of the time however you cut it.

What the argument should be about is why on earth in the summer months when there is loads of daylight hours do we waste a couple of them by having the sun come up at 3:30 or 4 am when most of the population are in bed until at least 6??? By having "Double summer time" ie leaving winter as it is. Or going to CET (UKIP would love that LOL), most of us would have daylight from around 5 or 5:30 in the morning until 11 to 12 at night.

Massive energy savings, more time for recreation and leisure (inc golf) everyone really is a winner and we don't do it!

Unfortunately the Scots will still whinge that it gets dark too late up there in the middle of Summer and they can't get to sleep! Otherwise I totally agree!

P.S. Why do we have to wait until the end of March (past the Spring equinox) before the clocks go forward again? The US go onto daylight saving time several weeks before we do. :mmm:

 

[Hobbit]

I always think this subject is approached from the wrong way. Always an issue when the dark nights are setting in and "why do we do this?" etc etc.

At the end of the day, winter in Britain is a pretty dull affair with only about 7/8 hours or less of daylight and we argue about how best to apportion this in the "day". There just isn't enough and it really isn't an argument worth getting into.....staying on BST will suit some but not others but it will still be dark most of the time however you cut it.

What the argument should be about is why on earth in the summer months when there is loads of daylight hours do we waste a couple of them by having the sun come up at 3:30 or 4 am when most of the population are in bed until at least 6??? By having "Double summer time" ie leaving winter as it is. Or going to CET (UKIP would love that LOL), most of us would have daylight from around 5 or 5:30 in the morning until 11 to 12 at night.

Massive energy savings, more time for recreation and leisure (inc golf) everyone really is a winner and we don't do it!

Give this man a sound thrashing - far too sensible.

 

[CMAC]

Unfortunately the Scots will still whinge that it gets dark too late up there in the middle of Summer and they can't get to sleep! Otherwise I totally agree!

P.S. Why do we have to wait until the end of March (past the Spring equinox) before the clocks go forward again? The US go onto daylight saving time several weeks before we do. :mmm:

you ever been to Scotland in Summer? The Scots revel in the late nights, golf till 11 pm, outside recreation/pubs/gardens/bbq's/biking etc till very late then golf at 5am getting a full round in before work.

I think theres only one person whinging here

 

[TonyN]

What about the kids who walk the dogs after school to earn a bit of pocket money? what about the kids who do paper rounds after school? What about the kids who play sport after school and have to walk home in the dark?

IMO, if a child is too young and considered to be at risk walking to school alone, they simply shouldn't be walking to school without an adult. Is the dark really the issue, or is it uneducated children without any street sense?

I believe the topic of DST is to be debated again this year with the suggestion we fall in line with CET. Either way, it wont make much of a difference once we all adapt. Except that we won't have to either work an hour longer, or take toil to finish on time!

 

[delc]

you ever been to Scotland in Summer? The Scots revel in the late nights, golf till 11 pm, outside recreation/pubs/gardens/bbq's/biking etc till very late then golf at 5am getting a full round in before work.

I think theres only one person whinging here

When I posted a similar thread on another forum last year, that was precisely one of the objections raised by several Scottish folk, i.e if we were on double summer time it would get dark too late in the middle of summer up there! Another Sassanach plot to deprive them of sleep!

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Simple answer. The rest of the UK changes so that we get lighter nights in the winter. If the Scots want to stay with the current system then their parliament can make that decision, as can the Welsh and N.Irsih equivalents. Devolution at work.

Perfectly workable, we manage with the rest of Europe being predominantly on a different time zone.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

What is the point in having Scotland on a different time zone ?!

We managed with the rest of Europe because they are good thousand miles further away in places ?!

There is nothing wrong with the way it works now. Plan your life better and there is nothing to worry about

 

[delc]

Simple answer. The rest of the UK changes so that we get lighter nights in the winter. If the Scots want to stay with the current system then their parliament can make that decision, as can the Welsh and N.Irsih equivalents. Devolution at work.

Perfectly workable, we manage with the rest of Europe being predominantly on a different time zone.

I have read somewhere that there is a move afoot to synchronise the UK with Central European Time in the not too distant future, so that would solve all our daylight saving issues. We would effectively be on BST in the winter and double summer time in summer.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I have read somewhere that there is a move afoot to synchronise the UK with Central European Time in the not too distant future, so that would solve all our daylight saving issues. We would effectively be on BST in the winter and double summer time in summer.

Can you point in the direction where you read this ?

It was have to go through government approval

Also it will effect business hours with companies that have links to the states

I will be amazed if it goes through just for light between 5 and 6 at night but still dark at 8 in the morning

 

[delc]

Can you point in the direction where you read this ?

It was have to go through government approval

Also it will effect business hours with companies that have links to the states

I will be amazed if it goes through just for light between 5 and 6 at night but still dark at 8 in the morning

So how do France and Spain manage, because they are on similar longitudes to the UK?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

So how do France and Spain manage, because they are on similar longitudes to the UK?

So where did you read about the change ?

Spain have a slightly different climate to ours - so does half of france

Put it this way - i would prefer to drive to work on an icy morning at 7 in light than in dark.

i still havent seen from yourself a perfectly good reason for the change ?

 

[Lord Tyrion]

What is the point in having Scotland on a different time zone ?!

We managed with the rest of Europe because they are good thousand miles further away in places ?!

There is nothing wrong with the way it works now. Plan your life better and there is nothing to worry about

If Scotland want to stay with the current set up then that would be their choice. It may suit them, personally I don't think it suits the rest of the UK very well. I plan my life very nicely thank you but it would be more pleasant if nights were lighter for a little longer. Most evidence points that way.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

If Scotland want to stay with the current set up then that would be their choice. It may suit them, personally I don't think it suits the rest of the UK very well. I plan my life very nicely thank you but it would be more pleasant if nights were lighter for a little longer. Most evidence points that way.

So instead of goign dark at 5 you get an extra hour until 6 ? And most people will be getting home from work then and wpnt be able to make any use of it anyway ?

I prefer having the light in the morning - safer on the roads with the school kids about and also golf course is open for 7

 

[upsidedown]

So how do France and Spain manage, because they are on similar longitudes to the UK?

In Spain last week at still dark at 8 then light till 7.30 pm.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

So instead of goign dark at 5 you get an extra hour until 6 ? And most people will be getting home from work then and wpnt be able to make any use of it anyway ?

I prefer having the light in the morning - safer on the roads with the school kids about and also golf course is open for 7

And that of course is the choice, lighter mornings or lighter evenings. You prefer one way I prefer the other. Such is life. Unfortunately for me it is harder to change something like this than maintain the status quo so the likelihood is nothing will change. I'll still keep signing the online petitions though :whoo: