The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) says an extra hour of daylight could prevent more than 450 deaths and serious injuries every year. It is calling on the government to launch a three-year trial to extend British summer time throughout the winter months. Clocks would then move forward another hour in summer, bringing the UK into line with central Europe, including France and Germany, throughout the year.

At present clocks are put back one hour to Greenwich mean time (GMT) at the end of October. RoSPA claims the resulting darker afternoons are causing about 130 deaths and 330 serious injuries on UK roads, based on findings by the Transport Research Laboratory in 1998. In 2004 road deaths rose from 269 in October to 300 in November and 323 in December. Pedestrian deaths also rose from 56 in October to 76 in November, according to Department for Transport figures.

A previous trial from 1968 to 1971, when the UK remained one hour ahead of GMT, saw an overall reduction in road casualties.

A spokesman for the DfT said it had no current plans to adopt RoSPA’s suggestions but added: “The department recognises there may be potential road safety benefits in advancing the clocks by one hour in both summer and winter. However, any amendment would need to have full regard to the effects on business, health and safety issues and on social and community life.”