Permanently in British Summer Time?

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SpruceRI

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Apologies if this thread has already been instigated, but I read yesterday that the Government are thinking of leaving us in permanent British Summer Time, to enable people to do more sport/activities in the light evenings.

If this were to occur, what would it mean for you?

For me, it would be fabulous, a saving grace really.

I am one of those people who gets the serious blues in the winter. By about September when it's getting Autumnal the feeling starts. As soon as the clocks change at the end of Oct I've got a serious case of it, and then am SAD (Seasonal Affective Disordered) all winter.

I know that it's the dark that affects me, rather than so much the weather. I've got a SAD lamp... bright white light that's supposed to brighten the mood, can't say it does.

The only thing that keeps me feeling sane is being outside, in the light, doing jobs/riding/some form of exercise.

Joining gyms for what I think of as artificial exercise doesn't help either, keeping off the caffeine does a little.

From reading the papers it seems that Scotland aren't happy about the change because their kids would be leaving school in the dark.

What are your thoughts on it?
 
From a purely selfish personal point of view the putting the clocks back in the autumn is good as it means that it is light enough to turn out in the daylight (7.30ish) all winter. I also like the way it signals here comes winter and here comes the spring.
 
I'm possibly getting confused here (doesn't take much!) but surely this would mean it was darker in the mornings instead? I hate getting up in the dark - always feel still half asleep! - so would find this really annoying. I don't see how it would make much difference really either as the amount of daylight is the same however much you fiddle with the clocks. I think I'd rather they left it as it is TBH.
 
TBH it wouldn't make a darned bit of difference to me. Where I live there is only about 6 hours of daylight in the middle of winter so I'll be getting up and going to work in the dark then returning home in the dark regardless of whether the clocks change or not. :(
 
I'm with you madhossy, I LOATHE winter!! Even today, driving back from the yard about 8.30pm it was starting to get dark. UGH! I just love being outside (sadly work is indoors but when not at work I'm outside!), and if the sun is shining even better. I always have to get up in the dark anyway in the winter, as usually on the road to work by 6-6.30am, but it does mean that I would be able to ride much more in the late afternoon during the winter. So I would give the idea my full approval!
 
Mike007 said:
Last time this was tried (yes we did have this before)the show stopper was children going to school in the dark.
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and forgot to say, why is it worse if they go to school in the dark than come home from school in the dark? At least if it was lighter for longer in the evenings the children might be persuaded to get out in the fresh air rather than watching TV all afternoon!
 
It worked out that overall,children were traveling more in the dark and the accident rate jumped.The idea was scrapped as aresult.
 
I wouldn't like it as I work early mornings before uni so getting up would be even harder, although probably wouldn't make much difference.

I heard on the radio that farmers would be really angry about it as they work early mornings.
 
As it stands in the winter, it's often dark when I leave for work, and it gets dark as early as 3:30pm when I'm still at work. I'd rather have the extra light hour later in the day, when there's at least a chance of going outside. I don't see that it would make so much difference to the children, except perhaps encouraging them to play outside for a bit after school. For me, this would be a very welcome change!
 
I was a primary school kid in Scotland when this was trialled in the 60s. It was horrible! It meant going to school in absolute pitch blackness. Mom or dad HAD to come with you, it was too dangerous to go on your own, as morning school-start time coincides with rush hour. We all had to wear reflective armbands, vests and stuff because our schools made us, which increased the feeling of being 'at risk' and made it feel even more scary. It was a real big deal, and we were all glad when we went back to putting the clocks back in winter.
 
I remember this being tried in the 60s too. It wasn't very nice to walk to school in the dark. However it probably matters less now as so many more people drive their kids to school. Back in the 60s the school I went to was in a Victorian terraced road, and only about 4 houses had a car outside!
 
I don't see it making any difference to school kids, as these days they are all transported to and from school by wild eyed, multi tasking, lunatic mums in 4x4's and people carriers.

Although, it may well make it harder for the mums to feed the kids, change the track on the MP3 player and text, while driving, as they won't be able to see what they are doing in the dark.
 
I'd prefer it keeping the BST because as it is now, I get up in the dark anyways and then have to put the horses and chickens in at 2:30 in the afternoon before I pick my son up from school as it's too dark for me to do it afterwards (no electricity down the field). At least I'd have time to ride and not put the animals in so early. My body does better on BST anyways.
 
NeilM said:
I don't see it making any difference to school kids, as these days they are all transported to and from school by wild eyed, multi tasking, lunatic mums in 4x4's and people carriers
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Not ALL kids are driven to and from school, at least not where I live .......
 
I would not be up for staying on BST all year round.
I'm lucky that I work flexi-time and so don't have to be at work until 10 am, so I have just about enough time to poo pick, and ride in the morning before work.
Even if I were to leave work at 4pm (the earliest I'm allowed) it goes dark at about 3.30 in midwinter, so an extra hour of daylight then (4.30) wouldn't actually help me at all, and losing it in the morning would mean I couldn't get anything done!
 
I read about this in the paper - I don't want it.
I remember being told the accident rate went up when they tried it before and I don't see why it would be any different now, especially as there is even more traffic.
My children love being outside but I really don't believe an extra hour of daylight, in the afternoon, in the winter would encourage them outside! I think the main idea behind this is the saving to businesses by using less electricity for lighting.
I used to ride in the morning before school - there weren't many days I couldn't, only around Christmas, and I carried on when I started work and I had to be at work by 8.45am at the latest. Can't do it now as other half starts work at 7am - he'd be thrilled at having to work for even longer in the dark. And Scotland would be plunged into darkness.
 
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