Daylight Savings Warning for Drivers

The months of March and October mean it’s time to change our clocks again, as lighter or darker nights start to take hold.

While we might live in a digital world where our mobile phone remembers to do this for us, most cars still don’t, leaving drivers confused about the correct time whilst they are on the move.

In a new study conducted by Group 1 Automotive, which surveyed drivers across the UK, it was revealed that a whopping 11,500,000 drivers don’t ever change their car clocks - meaning they’re working at the wrong time for at least half of the year.

The research also reveals that, for the 77% of people who do change their clocks, it takes an average of 1.87 weeks, roughly 13 days, to do this.

• The months of March and October mean it’s time to change our clocks again, as lighter or darker nights start to take hold.

  While we might live in a digital world where our mobile phone remembers to do this for us, most cars still don’t, leaving drivers confused about the correct time whilst they are on the move.

  In a new study conducted by Group 1 Automotive, which surveyed drivers across the UK, it was revealed that a whopping 11,500,000 drivers don’t ever change their car clocks - meaning they’re working at the wrong time for at least half of the year.

  The research also reveals that, for the 77% of people who do change their clocks, it takes an average of 1.87 weeks, roughly 13 days, to do this.

• Why Is It Important To Change Our Car Clocks?

  The importance of changing the time on our car clocks can often get moved to the back seat, but carrying out this task promptly can help you in many ways, most notably - timekeeping. 

  Using a mobile phone whilst driving a car is a criminal offence, and can land you a £200 fine and 6 points on your license. If you need to check the time, look at the dashboard, not your mobile device.

  Even worse driving penalties can occur if you have just passed your driving test, or if you have been driving for under 2 years, as you can get an instant ban from driving.

  While a glance at a watch might seem like an innocent alternative, caution is needed if your watch is a smart device. Roughly 35% of people use smart watches in the UK, increasing each year and if caught using one whilst driving, the same fine and penalty points as using a mobile device will apply.

  If the time is showing incorrectly on your dashboard, and you aren’t aware of it, you may get confused and miss important events such as appointments, or even picking the kids up from school.

  Most importantly, changing the time in your car enforces a stress-free environment, as noticing that the time is incorrect when driving can be irritating, and it may be stuck on your mind or you could find yourself trying to change it on the roads which could lead to potential road accidents.

  To save any stress, distractions whilst driving, and potential driving penalties, check the time is correct before you start driving.

  If you’re not sure how to do this, refer to your vehicle’s manual, or perform a simple Google search for your model of car to find helpful tips and even video walkthroughs of how to do this.