Hey Minister, leave those clocks alone

British summer time begins on Sunday March 25 and road safety champion GEM Motoring Assist (formerly The Guild of Experienced Motorists) is renewing its campaign to force the government to make it the last time clocks are altered.

With the tough message: “Hey Minister, leave those clocks alone,” GEM says British Summer Time (BST) should be the order of the day the whole year round and the idea of putting time pieces back in October should become history.

“Hundreds more accidents occur on dark and dangerous winter afternoons,” said GEM Chief Executive David Williams. “It has a particularly disastrous impact on youngsters leaving school and it is a problem that is so easy to solve.”

He said that Members of Parliament treat the concept with contempt because it is not a headline grabber or vote winner. David said: “When keeping BST was debated in The House a few weeks ago the vote to make summer time last for twelve months gained a favourable majority but not enough MPs had turned up to make it law. That is how much most of our elected members care about the road safety of children. Research has clearly shown that to maintain BST during the winter months would save around 100 lives and 400 serious injuries each and every year.”

GEM, that was founded 75 years ago this year, has its own symbolic clock in its East Sussex headquarters that is never altered from BST and is a poignant reminder all year round of those who have lost their lives on gloomy winter afternoons.

“After looking after the safety of all road users for three quarters of a century we are not going to go away,” said David. “This is the message we will shout again and again until our good sense is heeded.”

He said anyone who supported the GEM campaign should write to his or her MP now to allow time for the law to be changed before autumn.

For more information on GEM and its work and services to motorists go to motoringassist.com.