why do the British still put their clocks back an hour in Autumn/Winter and forward an hour in Spring/Summer?

Answer 1

Because we want to

Answer 2

Britain was the first country to implement Daylight Saving Time in 1908, when David Lloyd George was Prime Minister. The general idea was to take advantage of the extra light in the early mornings during the summer months for agricultural purposes. A further argument to justify the arrangement was the improved safety for people's travel home from work during the winter months.

You ask why we continue to do this. Well, we are stuck with it. Since 1981 EC Directives have prescribed the start and end dates of summer time in all Member States. There have to date been eight Directives which have set summer-time arrangements for fixed periods. The Summer Time Act 1972 sets the appropriate dates in the UK and summer-time orders have been made as necessary to implement the European Directives. The 9th EC Directive prescribes the start and end dates of summer time as the last Sundays in March and October respectively. These dates are in line with those already operating in the United Kingdom. The 9th Directive provides that these start and end dates should apply indefinitely.

Implementation of the 9th Directive in the UK is through an Order in Council under section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972, which amended the relevant sections of the Summer Time Act 1972. The Order came into force on 11 March 2002. A Regulatory Impact Assessment and Transposition Note were produced in conjunction with the laying of the Order.

Proposals have been made from time to time about changing the UK's time zone to Central European Time. However, any changes would need to have full regard to the effect on business and transport links with other countries, on health and safety issues such as road traffic accidents, and on social and community life. Although there could be some advantages, adoption of Central European Time in the UK would result in later sunrise in winter, affecting particularly outdoor workers and people in the north of England and Scotland. There are no current plans to change the UK’s time zone.

Answer 3

It's called daylight savings time. You know-- spring forward, fall back. It started because at the northern latitudes the days get so much shorter in fall and winter. People did not want to waste
precious hours of daylight sleeping or working.
Rather than changing their working hours, they decided to change the clocks instead. At the equator, it does not matter at all so the people living there do not join in.

Answer 4

As a Scotsman, no, i do not truly opt to wrestle the English over it. in truth, i do not truly provide a sh!t about it in any respect. And this is now to not do with how a concepts West you're, it is your decision . close to the equator the days are exceptionally a lot 12 hours basic, 12 hours darkish all year round. The extra North you flow the bigger the version in wintry climate days and summer season days. So your little question confirmed you as a lot as be a touch an uneducated 0.5-wit, did not it? The truly humorous section is that you for sure spent some time questioning about it and felt the opt to positioned that little chestnut in as 'further information'. it truly is the point your stupidity truly shone like a diamond

Answer 5

Daylight saving. We want mroe hours in bed in the winter and less in the summer, aparently.

Answer 6

Christ knows why we do it, and I have never yet got my head around it, twice every bloody year we have confusion and people turning up early/late for work, for what? Most kids get driven to school in their mums' Chelsea Tractors these days, so don't buy that old "it's so the little ones don't get run over" line.

Answer 7

Because if I didn't I would be at a different time from the rest of the UK.

Answer 8

Daylight Savings. We do it here in the States too. Don't all countries do it?

Answer 9

Same reason the dutch and belgians do. Daylight savings.

Answer 10

So that the farmers can work in the light mornings, load of crap.