Written question asked by David Kidney (Labour) on Thursday, 3 November 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 7 November 2005. It was answered by Stephen Ladyman (Labour) on Wednesday, 9 November 2005 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

October Clock Adjustment

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effects on numbers of road casualties of turning back the clocks in October each year.

Answer: A Government commissioned report by the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) published in October 1998 concluded that, if the UK adopted single/double summertime (ie GMT plus one hour in the winter, from October to March, and GMT plus two hours in the summer, from March to October) thereby making the evenings lighter, there could be a reduction in road casualties of over 400 people killed or seriously injured per year in Great Britain, including 100 deaths. However, a wide variety of issues would have to be considered very carefully if such a change was to be implemented of which casualty changes would be just one.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 26482; 439 c514W;439 c513-4W
Session: 2005-06
Related items: Road Accidents
Friday, 11 November 2005
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Accidents Casualties Roads Research Summertime
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk