Role of Street Lighting for keeping us Safe

PRADEEP KUMAR AGARWAL

doi:10.3759/ttea.v3i2.2852

Abstract

Street lighting gives us the ability to be able to see in the dark on roads. Lighting reduces crime and traffic accidents by a considerable amount. Therefore, for these reasons, it is necessary to have adequate street lighting. This study presents number of benefits to street lighting. It can be used to promote security in urban areas and to increase the quality of life by artificially extending the hours in which it is light so that activity can take place. Street lighting also improves safety for drivers, riders, and pedestrians. Driving outside of night hours is more dangerous. Pedestrians and vulnerable road users suffer from decreased visibility in the darkness. For these reasons, ways of reducing the risk to all road users during the hours of darkness must be found. One of the functions of street lighting is to encourage the safer and more rapid transit of traffic travelling at night. It is now broadly accepted that street lighting indeed assists in reducing the number of night-time accidents and that the associated level of luminance of street lighting plays a role. Recent developments in energy efficient light sources and in knowledge of the human visual system’s response to light at night provide opportunities to optimize roadway lighting systems and potentially, realize substantial energy savings and associated environmental benefits. Thus, this study highlights the necessity of street lighting system for improved smooth traffic operation and road safety during the night time, etc.