The clocks will reset this weekend if British Summer Time officially ends.
In the morning of October 31st, Brits will get an additional hour to sleep in the bed following the clocks go back to 2 am.
This will mark the beginning of British Standard Time (BST), and the UK will be returning in Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) which is the time zone to which the rest of the world is set.
While the country looks towards a relaxing night and a warm bed, we also have to prepare to experience shorter daylight hours and cooler nights when winter is looming once more.
When will the clocks turn back?
In the UK The clocks in the UK will be switched on 31 October at 2 am. This will set the clocks back one hour.
In the spring of this year, we switched the clocks ahead on 28 March. If the clocks are set moving forward by an hour, this is known as British Summer Time (BST), and when they reverse to standard time, the UK would be in Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
In 2022 we’ll shift the clocks ahead by an hour before 1 is on the 27th of March. We’ll then put them back on the 30th of October.
Why do clocks move forward?
The practice of changing clocks by an hour started over 100 years ago.
In 1916, the parliament approved 1916 the Summer Time Act, thereby establishing British Summer Time.
This was the outcome of an initiative initiated by William Willett to stop people who were wasting hours of sunlight during the summer and reduce the use of fuel during wartime.
Germany was the initial nation to implement the clock-changing system in April of the same year. The UK adopted it in May.
Even though Daylight Savings Time is observed throughout Europe, North America and Australasia, most countries within Africa and Asia aren’t following the practice.
When will the clocks turn back?
In the UK the UK, the clocks move ahead by an hour at 1 am on Sunday that falls in March.
If the clocks are set to move ahead in March, we’re losing an hour of sleep.
The clocks reset an hour from 2 am on the last Sunday in October. This means we’ll gain an hour to sleep.
British Summer Time 2021 ends, and the clocks will reset on October 31, 2021, Sunday 2021, at 2 am.
Modern technology, like laptops and smartphones, can alter time in real-time.
British Summer Time (BST) is when the clocks are one hour behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
In this period it is more light in the evenings, but less during the morning.
It is also sometimes referred to as Daylight Saving Time.
When the clocks turn back one hour – which they will do in 2019 at 2 am on Sunday the 31st of October, 2021, the UK is now on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
BST is GMT + 1 hour.
What is the reason for the controversy surrounding British Summer Time?
However, while no one is complaining about the extra time in bed during the autumn months, some have called in favour of British times to be brought into line with the other European countries to lessen the risk of accidents.
This means it is an hour ahead of GMT in summer and one hour earlier in winter.
Errol Taylor, director of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), declared in 2019 that “Clock adjustments were implemented in 1916 to reflect the requirements of a nation in war. But our focus now should be to avoid road accidents that can result in fatal injuries and deaths.
“We are aware that clocks change can kill people. In the week, the highest rates of casualties occur between 8 am, 10 am, 3 pm and 7 pm, with the peak being the highest. Road casualty rates rise as the days get darker evenings and worsening conditions for the weather.
“And it’s the vulnerable road users, for example, children on their return home from school, or cyclists who will reap the most significant benefits. So whatever we do to help bring the costs down will be worth it.
“While we appreciate the viewpoints of those who wish to preserve the current system in place, we must never ignore the fact life is at risk.”
Some people prefer to not turn the clocks back for October.
“One of the major arguments against using British Summer Time all year throughout the year, which means not having the clocks reset in October, is that it could be a problem for those who live in Scotland, which is where the sunrise may not arrive as early as 10 am,” says Dr Dunn.
“Among other factors, this could mean children traveling between school and home in darkness, placing them at risk. Mornings that are lighter in winter are also beneficial for postal workers as are those working in agriculture and construction that typically start their working much earlier than other workers.”
For more information and assistance, visit the following websites.
https://www.gov.uk/when-do-the-clocks-change
https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/when-do-clocks-go-forward
https://inews.co.uk/light-relief/clocks-go-forward-when-date-change-march-2022-why-uk-british-summer-time-explained-1427880
https://metro.co.uk/2021/10/30/will-the-uk-scrap-daylight-saving-and-when-do-the-clocks-change-15158181/
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/when-do-clocks-go-back-2021-why-do-they-change-daylight-saving-explained-a4266556.html
https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/lifestyle/outdoors/here-is-when-the-clocks-will-go-forward-3396176
https://www.scotsman.com/when-do-the-clocks-go-back-2021-date-and-time-clocks-change-in-october-and-reason-british-summer-time-ends-3352051
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/0/when-clocks-change-go-forward-march-2022-british-summer-time/
https://www.whtimes.co.uk/lifestyle/when-clocks-go-back-british-summer-time-ends-8399002
https://www.nationalworld.com/lifestyle/when-do-the-clocks-go-back-in-uk-in-2021-date-and-time-clocks-change-in-october-and-why-it-happens-3368106