Has the time come to stop changing the clocks? Scientists call for the biannual change to be DITCHED entirely – amid fears it fuels a rise in cancer, traffic accidents and sleep issues

As the clocks go forward this Sunday, many of us will fear losing an hour of sleep.

Now top scientists have called for an end to Daylight Savings Time (DST) amid fears it will lead to an increase in cancer, road accidents and sleep problems.

Dr John O’Neill, a cellular rhythm expert at the Cambridge-based Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, said there were ‘small but significant’ risks associated with the time change.

‘While it exposes us to a small but significant range of risks, it doesn’t do much good to anyone these days,’ he said.

‘It’s as if everyone in the country is experiencing an hour of jet lag at the same time.

‘You see an increase in the number of heart attacks and strokes for a few days after the time changes, and there is also an increase in the number of road accidents.’

Dr O’Neill is calling for the age-old tradition to be scrapped, with polls in recent years showing the majority of Brits agree.

‘I’m sure it was extremely useful for our ancestors 100 years ago,’ he said. ‘But these days there’s a pretty strong argument for just having permanent daylight saving.’

The practice of changing clocks was first introduced in 1916 to increase workforce efficiency by making the most of daylight hours during the summer months.

This means that the clocks will go forward one hour at 01:00 on the last Sunday in March, and go back one hour at 02:00 on the last Sunday in October.

The argument is that shifting our schedules forward as days get longer gives people more hours of sunlight during their workday.

However, Dr O’Neill stated that this could negatively impact our health (for example, by increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke) as our physiology is not primed and prepared for sudden change.

‘If you put all these loads and demands on the cardiovascular system, for example, an hour too early, then it’s not quite ready to meet the demand,’ he said.

‘So in people who are slightly older or slightly less healthy, it increases the risk of an adverse event such as a heart attack or stroke,’ he said.

Losing one hour of sleep when the clocks go forward can cause the entire population to feel more tired than usual.

Some studies suggest that the risk of a fatal traffic accident increases by around six percent following the switch to daylight saving time in the spring.

Experts warn it could have ‘small but significant’ effects on health

Contracted psychologist Dr. Katie Barge has partnered with workplace experts. protection.co.uk To highlight the increased risk of fatigue.

‘Even small changes in sleep and circadian rhythm can have a measurable impact on cognitive functions,’ he said.

‘When the clocks change, the body’s internal clock (circadian rhythm) becomes temporarily misaligned with external demands, resulting in reduced alertness, slower reaction times and reduced accuracy in attention and decision-making.

‘From a psychological perspective, this is linked to increased sleep pressure and decreased activity in the prefrontal cortex, the area of ​​the brain responsible for executive function, impulse control and risk assessment.

‘As a result, individuals may be more prone to lapses in concentration, errors and slight increases in risk-taking behavior, especially in tasks that require sustained attention or rapid responses.’

He explained that these effects tend to be most noticeable in the first few days, and most people readjust within three days to a week.

‘But people in safety-critical roles, such as shift workers, drivers and those working in manual or operational environments, may be more vulnerable as their jobs often rely on precision, alertness and quick decision-making under pressure,’ he warned.

‘For these groups, even mild fatigue can significantly increase the likelihood of errors or accidents.’

There is growing—albeit somewhat controversial—evidence that a mismatch between the sun and our bodies can have serious long-term health effects.

Research has shown that the risk of leukemia, stomach cancer, lung cancer and breast cancer is higher in those living in the west of the time zone where the mismatch between sun time and our body clocks is greatest.

Because this mismatch is so similar to what happens when clocks go forward, some scientists say daylight saving time may have a similar effect.

While many people want the app to be removed, some disagree.

Finn Burridge, Science Communicator at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, previously said: ‘Moving forward time also reduces the load on the energy grid as it reduces the need for artificial lighting in spring and summer.

‘It is also better for tourism and provides a boost to ‘PM’ activities as the extra daylight in the evenings allows people to do more after work.’

Other experts argue that it is ‘too early’ for a decision to be made.

A team from the University of Kent recently reviewed 157 studies from 36 countries that analyzed the effects of time changes.

The review found that when clocks were ‘turned forward’ the change was associated with an increase in the number of heart attacks and fatal road accidents, but also reduced crimes involving physical harm.

On the contrary, when the clocks are turned back one hour in autumn, deaths from all causes and work accidents decrease, while crimes involving physical harm increase.

Despite the number of studies reviewed, researchers found that the evidence within them was limited.

writing in European Journal of EpidemiologyThey emphasized that more robust research is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn about the cost-benefit ratio of Daylight Savings Time.

Chief writer Dr. Aiste Steponenaite said: ‘Public debate often frames daylight saving time as either clearly harmful or clearly beneficial, but our findings suggest the truth is more nuanced.

‘Policymakers deserve evidence that reflects both risks and benefits, not assumptions.’