February 3, 2006

Daylight Saving Time

The Honorable Ralph Klein
Premier of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta

Dear Premier,

The Canada Safety Council was pleased to hear that your government plans to amend the Daylight Saving Time (DST) Act, the objective being to bring Alberta into line with its provincial and U.S. trading partners. We understand this proposed change will come into effect this spring, joining Ontario, Manitoba and Quebec which have already decided to make the switch. We anticipate the other jurisdictions will follow.

Trade and commerce issues aside, public safety is an obvious consideration and benefit.

An important U.S. study¹ suggests that full year daylight saving time would reduce pedestrian fatalities by 13 percent of all pedestrian fatalities in the 5:00-10.00 a.m. and in the 4:00-9:00 p.m. time periods. Motor vehicle occupant fatalities would be reduced by three percent during the same time periods. American proponents of the time change say their country could save at least one per cent on its energy bills. They foresee other benefits such as a reduction in crime and traffic fatalities — in addition to extending the “feel” of summer.

The fact is, there are more pedestrian injuries and fatalities in the latter part of the afternoon and during the fall and early winter. A Transport Canada report on pedestrian fatalities and injuriesshows the greatest number of fatalities occurred between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., while injuries peaked between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. The report suggests this time-related profile is due to the shortening of daylight hours during the last three months of the year.

From a safety perspective, an extra hour of daylight in the afternoon will be a good thing for all Albertans.

Sincerely,

Emile-J. Therien
President

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		February 3, 2006 Daylight Saving Time The Honorable Ralph Klein Premier of Alberta Edmonton, Alberta Dear Premier, The Canada Safety Council was pleased to hear that your government plans to amend the Daylight Saving Time (DST) Act, the objective being to bring Alberta into line with its provincial and U.S. trading partners. We understand this proposed change will come into effect this spring, joining Ontario, Manitoba and Quebec which have already decided to make the switch. We anticipate the other jurisdictions will follow. Trade and commerce issues aside, public safety is an obvious consideration and benefit. An important U.S. study¹ suggests that full year daylight saving time would reduce pedestrian fatalities by 13 percent of all pedestrian fatalities in the 5:00-10.00 a.m. and in the 4:00-9:00 p.m. time periods. Motor vehicle occupant fatalities would be reduced by three percent during the same time periods. American proponents of the time change say their country could save at least one per cent on its energy bills. They foresee other benefits such as a reduction in crime and traffic fatalities — in addition to extending the “feel” of summer. The fact is, there are more pedestrian injuries and fatalities in the latter part of the afternoon and during the fall and early winter. A Transport Canada report on pedestrian fatalities and injuriesshows the greatest number of fatalities occurred between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., while injuries peaked between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. The report suggests this time-related profile is due to the shortening of daylight hours during the last three months of the year. From a safety perspective, an extra hour of daylight in the afternoon will be a good thing for all Albertans. Sincerely, Emile-J. Therien President			1. Coate D, Markowitz S. The effects of daylight and daylight saving time on US pedestrian fatalities and motor vehicle occupant fatalities. Accident Analysis and Prevention, April 2004; 36(3): 351-357.