DARK TIMES
Third of people say short days worsen mood DRIVERS URGED TO WATCH OUT NEXT YEAR’S DEADLINE TO END FOR TRICK-OR-TREAT CHILDREN DAYLIGHT SAVING ‘TOO SHORT’
People can be affected by seasons change MOTORISTS have been urged to take extra safety precautions tomorrow night as trick-or-treaters will take to the roads for Halloween celebrations.
Drivers have been urged to reduce their speed and to be on the lookout for children who might step on to the street without looking and animals who could be startled by fireworks. The AA’S Conor Faughnan said: “The changing of the clocks means we all find ourselves spending more time driving in darker conditions, particularly during our postwork commute where fatigue also tends to be more of an issue.”
Pet owners have been advised to keep them in a quiet part of the house to minimise fireworks startling them.
ON WEATHER FORECAST
PLANS to abolish daylight saving – which would end the practice of putting the clocks back and forward – may be derailed by EU transport ministers.
Most claim the European
Commission’s proposal to reform the system next year is not realistic.
Last August President Jean-claude Juncker said it would recommend ONE in three people feel the clocks going back and shorter days worsen their mood, a survey has revealed.
The research comes as temperatures are set to nosedive to below zero tomorrow night.
Almost 75% of Irish people put their gloomy state of mind down to darker mornings and evenings, a survey by Moo’d ice cream found.
Women are more likely (38%) to get affected by shorter days and the lack of sunlight compared to men (29%).
And 70% find comfort in food when the mercury drops, with women more likely to do so at almost 80%.
Meanwhile, the country is set to be hit with freezing temperatures, bitter winds, and heavy rain this week.
Last night saw temperatures dropping to as low as -2C, signalling the approach of a bitter winter.
Today will be cold with highs of 7C to 9C while night time will see the mercury drop to -1C.
Trick-or-treaters have been warned to wrap up as chilly temperatures are expected on Halloween with the mercury hitting -3C.
Met Eireann said the trend is set to continue into the start of November with frost overnight on Thursday.
The country may be lashed with torrential rain towards the end of the week as Storm Deirdre continues to build in the Atlantic.
Weather experts have warned of “strong and gusty westerly winds” on Friday.
Met Eireann said: “Thursday will be a largely dry, bright day with occasional sunny spells. Any showers should be light and well scattered. Highs of 7C to 10C, best in coastal areas.
“Dry, cold and clear early Thursday night, with temperatures in low single figures and with frost in places.”
Thursday is going to be largely dry and bright with sunny spells too
MET EIREANN
member states end the practice of putting clocks forward by an hour in the spring and then back in the autumn.
Austrian Transport Minister Norbert Hofer claimed the time frame is too short.
He added: “We must also be careful that we don’t end up with a patchwork of time zones.”