We’ve discussed this before, but not for a long time. It would be interesting to know people’s views, not that anything would be likely to change.

I noticed that clocks in North America generally went forward this last weekend, whereas we in Europe have another three weeks to wait. This is not an issue in the tropics, where most countries don’t change, and I don’t think many change in the Southern Hemisphere where there is not a great deal of land south of about 45°.

My personal feeling is that I don’t like it and I think we should leave it alone. The UK should stick with GMT and other countries base the chosen time zone on the nearest 15° Meridian East or West, either to the capital or to the majority of the land within the country. Of course, we will still need time zones for countries that cover a lot of distance between east and west, such as the USA, Canada, Australia and so on. Though it doesn’t seem to bother China. It’s a bit bonkers that most of Spain is west of the Prime Meridian, but it’s on Central European time. Go figure.

What are your thoughts?

The older I get the more the swapping back and forth bothers me (more so in the spring when we jump ahead). I am all for picking one or the other and sticking to it.

Totally in favour of DST.

If we had to stay on the same timezone throughout the year…

I would prefer that the UK stayed on DST (GMT+1) for the entire year!

Neil

DST? We aren't American (well, I'm not anyway).

There's an optimistic feel to moving to British Summer Time. Just the words make me feel happy. And I enjoy the feeling of snuggling down for winter when the clocks go back.

If you haven't guessed already (and I'm sure you have) I'd keep it as it is.

can it.

As Steve mentioned, in Australia we already have several time zones - including one confusing half-hour difference(who does that!). Some states have daylight savings, but where I live (Queensland) we don't, which means that for almost half the year I have to remember theres a one hour difference from the states directly (and not that far) to the south. Given that a couple of my kids live in those states, I do need to remember for things like phone calls etc.

I have no real preference at to daylight saving time (ok, maybe a very slight preference for not having it), but I would very much prefer it if all of the states in the eastern part of Australia would get it together and be consistent. Life can be complex enough as it is without making it more so.

I’m so accustomed to it, that I really can’t conceive of not having it. I find changing to time on clocks twice a year to be a hassle, but it’s a minor inconvenience,I suppose. As a compromise, how about permanently adjusting time a half hour, ditching DST and calling it a day?

I have to say that I like BST/DST. Just as the weather is improving and nights are starting to stretch out a little in late March, we get a 1-hour turbo boost to the light evenings. I find this has a very positive effect on my mood and suddenly it seems possible to do a lot more in a day.

When the clocks go back in late October, I find that a positive thing too. It signals that we are now hunkering down for late autumn and winter, with Christmas etc, which I don't mind. It's the Jan to mid-March period that really drags and I'm not sure that DST can do anything to help that.

I would prefer to stick to Standard Time.

@thomcat00
That quote is brilliant. Although do love summer and the lovely light evenings, I’m always slightly amused by the people who couldn’t possibly go to bed while it’s still light, yet are perfectly happy to be still asleep when the sun has been up for hours!

GMT all year round for me. I do understand that people like the lighter evenings which BST affords but what about the early risers who like a light (very) early morning !?!
As an aside, I appreciate that UTC is measured from midnight and GMT measured from midday (which in my mind is more logical being a patriotic Brit ) but it riles me when people prefer to quote UTC time.

GMT+1 for me please.

Personally my thinking is very much aligned with @welshlad. Having lived with the cycle for as long as I have now it's kind of imbedded. I think my circadian rhythms are very muck aligned to DST now. That said, I don't think you ever get used to the interminable chore of changing the many clocks that seem to pop up on every domestic appliance.

Des

@thomcat00 That quote is absolutely superb, true wisdom.