Misery, despair and gloom. No, not the economy – the clocks went back at the weekend, so we’ll have to endure five months of never seeing daylight outside working hours.

We believe it’s time to take another look at bringing Britain into line with continental Europe, and moving to Central European Time. There are many reasons to do this – not least the impact on road safety. This month you’re a lot more likely to be rear-ended by a sleepy sales rep on his way home than at any other time of the year.

On top of that, recent research from Cambridge University claims Britain could save £485 million a year by using lights less in the evenings, and cut carbon emissions by 170,000 tonnes. Even the National Farmers’ Union – traditionally opposed to any change – now favours the move. The only resistance appears to be the Government – perhaps with an election not far off, someone will see the vote-winning potential of ditching GMT.

Also this month we’re focusing on how to maximise your van’s residual value – every penny counts right now, and a lot of the tips are simple common sense. And we’ve tested two stalwart vans that have recently had a bit of a makeover – the Ford Transit Connect and the Toyota Hiace.

Mark Bursa - editor

Saving daylight raises accident rate

Business insurance provider More Than Business says there is a 5% insurance claims spike from van drivers following the switch back to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

New flagship pick-up for Mazda

Mazda has given its BT-50 pick-up a facelift, including a new range-topping Intrepid model. It features a 156PS 3.0-litre engine, five-speed auto and leather interior.

Tracking system helps win small fleet award

A vehicle tracking system has helped Commercial Group win the Energy Saving Trust’s Best Small Fleet award: it saved the business 89,000 delivery miles.

VW Caddy range gets the Sportline treatment

Volkswagen has given a Sportline makeover to its new Caddy and Caddy Maxi: there’s sporty styling, powerful 2.0-litre engines and high levels of specification.

Hanover Commercial Vehicle Show round-up

Here’s a look at some of the interesting new models and concepts at Europe’s biggest CV show: vans for small business van operators in 2009 and beyond.

Toyota Hiace: new look and more power

Toyota’s Hiace has been around for a while. But it received a new look and several upgrades last year. And it still fills a unique niche in the market.

Transit Connect: is the Ford still best?

Ford’s baby Transit is becoming one of the most popular vans on the road. But with hot new competitors in the compact sector, is it still king of its class?

Plan ahead for strong residuals

How much will your van be worth when you come to sell it? Here are some simple steps to ensure you get the best return when the time comes to trade it in.