Why do we put the clocks back and forward again. Is there a historical reason for this or is it a EU directive

Answer 1

In a correction to an earlier answer, in BRITAIN you can thank William Willet who is generally credited with mooting the idea of Daylight Savings. He lobbied M.P.s and others in 1907 re this.
In April 1916, Daylight Saving, or as it became more generally known SUMMER TIME began as a direct response to the first world war.
Nothing to do with the EU!
Nothing to do with usa!

Since 1916 only two variations have taken place in the United Kingdom.
During the 2nd World War, Double Summer Time was introduced to maximise every last minute of daylight.
There was a 3 year experiment between 1968 - 1971 whereby we observed "British Standard Time" and the clocks were not altered. This resulted in very dark mornings - some areas of Britain not reaching day break until 10.00 a.m. The move was unpopular and coupled with a marked increase in child road accidents and fatalities, the experiment was not adopted and the traditional twice yearly clock changing resumed.

Answer 2

"Starting in 1916, the dates for the beginning and end of BST each year were mandated by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. In February 2002, the Summer Time Order 2002 permanently changed the dates and times to match European rules for moving to and from daylight saving time. The European compromise was closer to previous British practice than to the practice elsewhere in Europe."

Answer 3

Daylight time was adopted by several countries during the First World War to save fuel.

The idea is that shifting an hour of daylight from the morning to the evening reduces home power consumption by better matching waking time with daylight hours.


A study done in the U.S. during the 1970s suggested it would result in savings amounting to about one per cent of electricity consumption.

Answer 4

I think it was brought in during the war to save energy and to help farmers so that their working hours during daylight would not be out of step with others e.g. dairy workers collecting milk from farms I also believe that the practise continued to allow children to travel to and from school in daylight

Answer 5

The daylight saving time system was introduced to give farmers more time to sow and harvest. Although it doesnt actually give them more time as would get up with the sun and go to bed when it set what it did was to open shops and banks at more beneficial times.

Answer 6

The war. The War The War.

When will people realise that war is a nightmare. it even screws up the clocks

Answer 7

Legend has it Parliament considered reform a few years ago, but the Scottish MPs were too worried about their Highland farmers stumbling around in the dark, so vetoed it.

Answer 8

This was started during the war, to help farmers ect. There is no need for it now, the children are driven to school.

Answer 9

You can thank Benjamin Franklin for this.