A pair of Kamloops residents have started a petition to try and stop having clocks change twice a year in B.C.
Former Chamber of Commerce president Bob Dieno and Tara Holmes have launched a petition on change.org in an effort to lobby the B.C. government to stop having clocks fall back and spring forward.
“For me it goes back to my university days where I actually had a final exam on the Monday after the time change and slept right through it. I’ve questioned why we’ve done it ever since,” Dieno said.
In addition to being an annoyance, Dieno said switching the clocks also poses a safety hazard.
“What’s proven is that when you’re changing people’s sleep patterns there is a negative effect on a lot of things. Heart attacks go up noticeably following the week after the time change. Accident rates, both workplace and car accidents, and accidents involving pedestrians go up. This really is a safety issue when it comes down to it, not just that it bothers us.”
Dieno and Holmes are looking to garner the support of 10,000 registered B.C. voters, which would require the provincial government to take action. They are looking to get the signatures in the next four months, so the spring time change would be the last.
“There’s not a true time frame, but what we’ve got is four months in between the two time changes. If we can get a lot of signatures in the next four months maybe it’ll be the last time we change the time,” Dieno said. “Anybody can sign the petition, but we need to get registered B.C. voter to lobby the B.C. government.”
The launch of the petition comes days before the fall time change. Clocks will be set back an hour at 2 a.m. on Sunday.
The petition “Stop the Time Change in British Columbia” is available online and more information is available through the STOP the Time Change Facebook page.
