What's the point to British Summertime?

Question

I mean, apart from messing up my sleep habits (okay, they were pretty messed up already, but still...)

Answer 1

It has a long and checkered history. In short it came in to effect in 1916 during WW1 and its original purpose had been (and continues to be) a drive towards greater efficiencies. How? Well it looks to maximise the greatest amount of day light hours and in the past this would have been a real need for agriculture, with the yield from the land being extremely important during the war.

In WW2 BST had been moved on 2 hours and not the normal one that we have come to know.

There continues to calls to end BST or even amend it, however there may be still rel event arguments for keeping (not the disruption to you sleep habits). By moving BST forward and back and maximising on daylight hours there a probably less accidents on the road due to day light. Peoples productivity tends to be greater during day light hours.

I agree its a pain and not sure if I would want it to stay or go but agree its a pain from a sleep patter perspective.

Answer 2

British summertime was brought in mainly for the likes of children going to & from school, but also for the miners too As this made their working days easier by going into a dark place during daylight & coming out during day light. Imagine working all winter without seeing daylight at all, hence it made their lives better knowing the summertime would be better for them.

Answer 3

It's simple. As the days get longer there are more daylight hours available than in winter. How do we want to spend those extra hours of daylight? In bed in the early morning still asleep, or at leisure in the evening?

So we shift the clocks forwards so it stays light later in the evenings. This also saves electricity.

It's because of children going to school in the dark etc. that it returns to GMT in winter.

Answer 4

Its to keep the tractors on the road a bit longer and to keep the population down. The Russians have a better way they have a mirror in outer space that is 8 miles wide and they reflect the sun on areas that are dark.

Answer 5

Historically to save electricity by leaving the lights off until later, but today probably to keep a constant time difference with America :-)

Answer 6

It's British Summertime...
There doesn't need to be a point!
Or does there?

Answer 7

For the children when they go to school, so as not to cross the roads during dawn or dusk, so i was told

Answer 8

To warm up after winter

Answer 9

No point