'Double summer time' debate is on in UK

A bill in the House of Commons, proposed by MP Rebecca Harris, asks the government to study moving the UK to Central European Time instead of GMT.^[1] According to a study, the change would slightly increase accidents in the darker mornings but prevent more accidents in the evenings, when drivers are tired and make more mistakes. The road safety charity Brake has estimated that the change would save about 100 lives a year.^[2]

Correction, 26 October 2026: The article first said that "the House of Commons proposed" the change; it was a private member's bill by MP Rebecca Harris.^[1] It also said that Brake estimated 450 lives saved a year; Brake's estimate was about 100 lives a year.^[2]

The trial would last three years, if the Welsh and Scottish governments agree.

Similar changes have been tried twice before: first during World War II, to increase productivity and to let munitions workers get home safely before dark, and again from 1968 to 1971.^[1]

If the plan goes ahead, the clocks will not go back in October when summer time ends, and in March, when summer time starts, they will go forward one hour as usual. This is where the term 'double summer time' comes from.

Update, 26 October 2026: The bill was talked out in the House of Commons in January 2012 and went no further.^[1] The UK still uses GMT in winter and British Summer Time (GMT+1) in summer; in 2026 the clocks went back on 25 October 2026.