FW: [IAM-Group-Info] IAM Weekly Mailer for car and motorcycle groupsw/e 23 October 2011
Ron Patrick
For your information.
Ron.
Please find below for your interest the news release that IAM Chiswick will
issue next Monday (24 October).
Regards
Alex Sarkisyan
Digital Marketing Executive
0208 996 9603
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
24 October 2011
There is a cure for the summertime blues
The IAM is calling for the end of British summer time because accident rates
increase when the clocks go back in October. Research shows that changing
the system could save up to 80 lives each year on Britain's roads.2
An IAM poll of more than 2000 motorists last winter found that 65 per cent
would support a double summertime system - moving the clocks forward by one
hour throughout the entire year, while still putting the clocks forward in
spring and back in autumn.
There are 17 per cent more pedestrian road casualties in November than the
monthly average. This sharp increase is likely to be partly attributed to
the winter clock change*.
There is also an increase in the number of motorcycle accidents in
November - 41.8 per cent higher than the normal monthly average and 73 per
cent higher than in February*1. Numbers of casualties stay relatively
constant but the rate per billion miles dramatically increases in autumn.
IAM chief executive Simon Best said: "Changing the current summertime system
would save lives. Children especially are more likely to be out and about
after school and an extra hour of daylight will make them more visible.
"We want to see a three-year trial of the new daylight system. If the trial
period proves the new daylight hours to be a disadvantage, it is clear that
the current system should be reinstated. However with convincing evidence of
the potential benefits, it seems only right that we pilot a new system."
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
1. *,*1: Source: Department for Transport statistical release 'Reported
Road Casualties in Great Britain' Tables RAS50001, RAS50005, RAS30020
(2010).
2. Broughton, J and Stone, M. Report 368, "A new assessment of the likely
effects on road accidents of adopting a GMT+1/GMT+2 regime", Transport
Research Laboratory, Crowthorne: 1998.
3. The IAM is the UK's largest independent road safety charity, dedicated
to improving standards and safety in driving, motorcycling and cycling. The
commercial division of the IAM operates through its occupational driver
training company IAM Drive & Survive. The IAM has more than 200 local
volunteer groups and over 100,000 members in the UK and Ireland. It is best
known for the advanced driving test and the advanced driving, motorcycling
and cycling courses. Its policy and research division offers advice and
expertise on road safety.
ENDS ALL
Media contacts:
IAM Press Office - 020 8996 9777
press....@iam.org.uk<mailto:press....@iam.org.uk>
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iam.org.uk<http://www.iam.org.uk/>
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