A new survey by lighting brand 4lite shows that the majority of Brits would be happy to keep daylight saving time permanent. 75.8 per cent of those polled voted in favour of the idea, compared to only 11.6 per cent of those questioned keen to keep the twice-yearly clock change. The other 12.6 per cent were undecided.
The poll supports the view of campaigners who have historically argued that abolishing the clock change and keeping British Summer Time all-year-round benefits the nation because it saves energy and helps to reduce traffic accidents – the 4lite survey reveals almost half (47 per cent) think their energy bills increase putting the clocks back in winter and a quarter (23.5 per cent) think there are more road accidents.
Other reasons cited for wanting to avoid putting the clocks back in winter were: spending less time outside because of the dark, poorer mental health, children having less time to play out, and increasing crime rates.
Interestingly, women are less likely to go out in winter because it gets dark earlier, compared to men. Also, a quarter of women say they stay home more in winter because they feel vulnerable going out in the dark.
Jane Rylands, Head of Marketing for 4lite, said: “With rising energy prices and a unanimous public vote for change in America, we think the time is right to reignite the debate about permanent daylight saving in the UK. Our survey shows that many people think changing the clocks feels like an outdated tradition and, although now it feels like part of normal life, we have only been doing this for the last 100 years.
“As we move into British Summer Time this weekend, the extra hour gives us more daylight to spend outside in the evening, will reduce energy bills and will generally help lift our mood.”
She added: “Regardless of whether it’s British Summer Time or GMT, smart lighting can help lift our mood when it’s dark. It can help us wake up in the morning or prepare us for sleep at night. Good use of lighting supports the body’s circadian rhythm and can help us be more productive in both work and play.”
Timeline: Did You Know?
- In 1784, American statesman and inventor Benjamin Franklin suggested changing the clocks as a way of saving money on candles and lamp oil
- The Daylight Saving Time concept was first proposed in 1895 by New Zealand postal worker George Vernon Hudson
- In 1901, King Edward VII put the clocks back 30 minutes at Sandringham so he could hunt for longer
- One of the key people responsible for the worldwide adoption of Daylight Saving Time was British Campaigner William Willett. In 1907 he self-published the pamphlet, Waste of Daylight, which was backed by David Lloyd George and Winston Churchill.
- William Willett is the great-great-grandfather of Coldplay’s Chris Martin, who wrote the song “Clocks”
- In 1916, Germany was the first country to implement Daylight Saving Time – Britain followed suit the same year
Top ten reasons for not putting the clocks back in winter
1 |
It is outdated and unnecessary |
21.1% |
2 |
The inconvenience/hassle of changing the clocks |
14.7% |
3 |
The impact of the darker evenings on my mental health |
13.7% |
4 |
The saving on my energy bills |
9.7% |
5 |
The impact of the darker evenings on my family life |
8.6% |
6 |
Children coming home from school when it's getting dark/ not being able to play out because it's dark |
7.9% |
7 |
The impact on my sleep pattern/body clock |
7.5% |
8 |
The disruption to my routine and schedule |
5.0% |
9 |
The impact of the darker evenings on my working life |
4.9% |
10 |
Having to drive in the darker evenings |
4.1% |
1,004 UK adults were polled 22-23 March 2022.
For more information, visit www.4liteuk.com.
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