The clocks have gone back for winter, so darkness increases, and road safety organisations, including Road Safety GB, believe it’s time for change.

Calls are strengthening for the UK to adopt ‘Churchill Time’, arguing that a permanent shift forward by one hour would save lives on Britain’s roads.

But while supporters claim the time change could prevent dozens of deaths each year, critics argue it may bring new risks, particularly during the darker winter mornings.

Why Churchill?

Churchill Time refers to the wartime practice introduced by Winston Churchill, in which clocks were moved forward to maximise daylight during crucial working hours to increase production for the war effort.

The modern proposal would put the UK on British Summer Time (BST) in the winter months and “double summer time” (BST+1) during the warmer months.

Supporters argue that the change would align daylight with the periods when pedestrians, cyclists and motorists are most active.

This would be particularly beneficial during the evening rush hour, when serious collisions peak.

 

Simple, low-cost road safety

Road Safety GB has publicly endorsed exploring Churchill Time, highlighting strong evidence from the Road Safety Foundation indicating that shifting an extra hour of daylight into late afternoon could prevent around 40 deaths and more than 100 serious injuries each year.

Analysis suggests that the 3pm–7pm period consistently records the highest number of serious or fatal road casualties.

When clocks go back, that high-risk window falls into darkness, reducing visibility for schoolchildren heading home, commuters, and vulnerable road users.

Supporters say the change is “a simple, low-cost intervention” that would deliver immediate safety benefits without the need for new infrastructure.

Advocates also point to broader gains: more evening daylight could encourage active travel, boost retail and hospitality footfall, and reduce energy use.

Darker starts and risks

Despite its potential benefits, Churchill Time has long faced resistance, especially from rural communities, parents, and road users concerned about darker winter mornings.

Opponents argue that while shifting daylight later would make afternoons safer, it could pose serious negative risks for young people.

Morning school journeys are likely to be more dangerous, particularly in northern regions where the sun rises even later.

Farmers and early-morning workers, who already begin their day before dawn, warn that a further delay to sunrise would disrupt routines and increase risks on rural roads, where visibility is critical.

Some industries also fear complications in aligning work hours with European partners, especially if the UK’s time zone departs further from its neighbours.

Critics say that any change must be weighed against impacts on transport scheduling, broadcasting, finance and logistics.

Habits and routines

Past proposals for Churchill Time have struggled to gain political traction.

The UK ran an experiment between 1968 and 1971, keeping clocks forward throughout winter.

Early evaluations noted safety benefits, but public discomfort with darker mornings led to the trial’s scrapping.

Road Safety GB acknowledges the concerns and stresses that any decision “will not be judged purely on casualty reduction but on a wide range of economic and social issues.”

Nevertheless, supporters argue that safety evidence is stronger and more comprehensive today than during the 1960s trial, and should be given greater weight.

 

 

A debate

With winter’s early darkness making its presence felt, calls for change are resurfacing in Parliament.

Campaigners say the annual clock reset highlights how avoidable some collision risks are, and how daylight distribution could be reshaped to save lives.

Whether the UK will revisit Churchill Time remains uncertain. Still, the debate balances safety, economics, and public preference.

It is set to intensify as pressure mounts for policies that cut preventable road deaths, and the government looks to publish its Road Safety Strategy document.