Safety 'Time Machine' Will be Set to Remember Road Deaths

LONDON, March 21 -- Road-users champion GEM Motoring Assist is to create a 'safety time machine' when British Summer Time (BST) begins on March 26.

As the clocks go forward to ensure lighter evenings GEM will designate one time piece at its East Sussex headquarters that will never be altered again and year round will run at BST.

Come the autumn, anyone relying on the clock will have to make a mental adjustment and be reminded of the horrific loss of life and injury on our roads because of the government's unwillingness to keep lighter late afternoons throughout the year.

"Along with other road safety organisations we have been campaigning for years to stay locked on British Summer Time," said GEM Chief Executive, David Williams. "It is just plain common sense. At the end of the day when drivers are tired and school children are eager to get home, it is simply foolish to add to the recipe for disaster by making the late afternoon dark and dismal.

"Research clearly indicates that around 100 deaths and 350 serious injuries could be prevented every year if BST was adopted during the winter months.

"Putting the clocks back in October was invented to help farmers and their early morning needs, but this country is no longer dominated by agriculture and modern farmyards and farm equipment all have super effective lighting." said Mr Williams.

He said that anyone who supported the GEM campaign should write, asking their MP to push for change and perhaps leave one of the dozens of clocks in the average home set permanently on BST as a personal reminder of the slaughter and injury on the roads in winter.

For more information on GEM and its work for the safety of all road users, go to www.motoringassist.com.