Road lighting 'could be dimmed'

[the snapman]

Lights on thousands of miles of major roads in England could be dimmed during quiet periods in a bid to save money and reduce carbon emissions, it has emerged.



Major roads could be much gloomier at night if lights are dimmed to save money



The Highways Agency is proposing to reduce light levels on A-roads when traffic levels are "very low".

Local transport minister Norman Baker said he supported the move provided safety was not compromised.

Research into when and where lights could be dimmed will begin in 2012/13.

The news emerged after Liberal Democrat minister Mr Baker provided a written answer to a parliamentary question from Conservative MP Daniel Kawczynski.

'Minimum lighting required'

Mr Kawczynski, the MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham, had asked Transport Secretary Justine Greening "what plans she has to revise guidance on the minimum amount of lighting required on A roads".

In reply, Mr Baker wrote: "The Highways Agency has plans to reduce the level of lighting on A roads when traffic levels are significantly below road capacity.

"The agency has no plans to reduce the level of lighting on A roads during the peak periods that occur during the hours of darkness or to temporarily switch A road lighting off when traffic flows are low.

"The level of light reduction will be based upon internationally agreed standards and made in consultation with the UK's Institution of Lighting Professionals."

'Cost-saving'

Mr Baker added: "It is right that lighting authorities consider, in the interests of cost-saving and the environment, whether lighting can be sensibly dimmed or turned off, consistent with proper safety assessments."

A Highways Agency spokesman said: "This is not about switching off lights on A-roads.

"However, we want to continue to reduce the carbon footprint associated with managing England's major A-roads and one of the ways we are considering doing this is dimming lights when traffic levels are very low.

"Any changes to light level will be determined in consultation with industry experts and will meet internationally agreed standards to ensure there will be no impact on safety for road users."

Source: BBC News - Road lighting ***039;could be dimmed***039;

[CernyBaby]

Sounds like a good idea to me, would certainly help when stargazing.

[Meat-Head]

we pay road tax for all this. tax, tax on tax, vat etc etc.

OK, thoses in favour of dimming lights, imagnine this.

You take your car to "Meat-Head-Motors" - for a battery drain fault on your car.

At M-H-M it is found to be a charging fault, the dynamo is simply, not putting enough charge back in battery. so it simply, gets hit with a hammer, the loosebelt tightened, and piece of cardboard around the dynamo then painted silver.

You get a big bill and off you go. Now the dynamo is working at full speed because the belt was tightened, the dynamo, now fails, because it's old and ~~~~ed.

So your on a motorway, the entire car grinds to a halt, no battery power for hazards, nothing, no street lights for anybody to see you.

Your only option, is to set fire to your car to warn other drivers of the dangours situation, you have caused.

Meat

[GastonJ]

Your only option, is to set fire to your car to warn other drivers of the dangours situation, you have caused.

Meat

Long as I can say someone else did it and claim on the insurance ten that's fine

It did say dim the lights not get rid of them entirely tho.

[Meat-Head]

It did say dim the lights not get rid of them entirely tho.

Yeah, but dim to me is, every other one

OFF TOPIC:-

Street lights are often fed from opposite ends of the stree, incase one gets damage, just knocks out every other one.

BUT

To the noce who has thought of this, will they be knocking off 2 miles out of 5 miles?

[barrowmanandrew]

Yeah, but dim to me is, every other one

OFF TOPIC:-

Street lights are often fed from opposite ends of the stree, incase one gets damage, just knocks out every other one.

BUT

To the noce who has thought of this, will they be knocking off 2 miles out of 5 miles?

good idea,
will save a fortune on dimmer switches..

[Meat-Head]

good idea,
will save a fortune on dimmer switches..

Yeah, and how would you propose, to dim a mercury, sodium, or even flouresent light bulb (globe - for non Inglish people)

[smirnoff_rules]

don't think they have looked into this right , the cost will be more than the savings l would think to set this up


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[GastonJ]

They could do what our council does and just let teh lights blow and not replace them for months at a time....

[barrowmanandrew]

Yeah, and how would you propose, to dim a mercury, sodium, or even flouresent light bulb (globe - for non Inglish people)

thats a good point...

do those lights no flicker on and off like disco lights ewhrn voltage is dropped?

[richy_rich]

Don't get why roads need lighting at all tbh, they're not lit where I am...

Cars etc. have their own lights and they have reflectors etc. built-in should your dynamo conk out.

Driving back to the UK now, for me seems really odd at night, it's like perpetual dawn. The lights in our village go out at 10pm and, on a cloudy night, if you don't have a torch with you or you're not in a car you're ~~~~ed. Maybe that's why we have warning triangles and hi-viz jackets?

[masur123]

I agree, turn off or dim the lights is good for all! Especially in quieter areas. I understand in big cities the need for lights, but in quite rural or town outskirts turn them all off!

[bobwill]

Our local council have started since new year turning our lights off at midnight and on again at 5 in the morning when out to pub I have to make sure I leave pub by 5 min to 12 then I just get home turn the key just as all lights go out I did get caught out one night could not see a bloody thing

[Johnner]

Bob mate,yer not thinking outside the box here.

Just stay in the pub until 5am.Problem sorted !!

[Meat-Head]

Our local council have started since new year turning our lights off at midnight

So what happens if you trip over a hedgehog, slip in a cow turd etc etc.

Can you sue - heath and safty at work act 1974.

OK, no idea where you live, but there is a fat unemployed person, in a council, house/flat, say at 1am - a *GENUINE* emergency happens, gas starts leakin, water pipe, whatever, they are too fat to turn the water off, so they call council plumber, who can't see the missing drain cover some gypop has weighed in.

Can he sue sue ander HASAWA 1974?