LARSOA has expressed fears that child casualty figures may continue to rise at the most dangerous time of the year for vulnerable road users.
When the clocks go back at the end of the month the country is ‘plunged into darkness’ during the afternoon and evening rush hour. LARSOA is campaigning to move time forward throughout the year to create extra daylight during the winter.
The Association says research proves many lives could be saved and injuries prevented by an extra hour of daylight when many people are returning home from school and work.
David Frost, LARSOA press and PR officer, explains: “There would be between 104 and 138 fewer deaths – and 450 fewer KSIs – each year. By introducing the system of Double British Summertime, the government could go a long way to hitting its targets for reducing KSIs.
“Extra daylight on winter afternoons would protect the most vulnerable road users, cyclists and pedestrians such as children returning home from school and the elderly, who are often afraid of being out after dark.”
