Street Lighting Cut Backs in the news
The practice of switching off street lighting has again come into question, highlighted in a recent news story by the BBC. MPs and Safety groups have queried the practice as more Councils embrace the measure in order to save funds with the large budget reductions they are currently facing.
Some local authorities have turned off some lights at selected times and switched others off completely, in a bid to save money. Commons Transport Select Committee chairwoman Louise Ellman said she feared safety was being compromised. It is estimated that the UK's 7.5 million street lights cost about £500m each year to power. (BBC news, 7th September 2010).
However, it is imperative that whilst employing measures to reduce costs driver safety is not compromised. Buckinghamshire Council have done just this, pioneering a program of innovative ways of reducing street lighting, incorporating other safety measures such as improved white lining, better signage and better road delineation.
Unlike some authorities whom initially advocated reducing energy usage by a complete switch off between certain hours, Buckinghamshire have taken a more considered approach by targeting rural street lighting, with the benefits of urban street lighting, such as pedestrian safety, being unaffected. The scheme also ensured road safety was not compromised, by the introduction of other safety measures such as better signage and the use of Astucia SolarLite road studs.
Phase 1 of the streetlight switch off trial which commenced in 2007 was considered a success, saving in the region of £15,000 a year in energy costs and 90 tonnes of carbon emissions. A second phase trial is now underway, comprising of 39 sites, including 11 where Astucia studs are being used. Significant reductions in energy costs and carbon emissions are expected with the switching off of nearly 3,000 street lights in rural locations.
The three year trial includes regular site inspection with monitoring and an ongoing safety audit process including a large number of factors from collision records, Crime & Disorder monitoring to inspections of signing, lining, road studs and foliage by Local Area Technicians.
Council spokesman Keith Carpenter said: "I can assure people that we are carefully monitoring this trial. We have the intention of saving money but without compromising road safety."
Graham Muspratt, Group Product Manager for Astucia commented “We are delighted to be involved in this forward thinking project with Buckinghamshire County Council, and I am pleased to report that so far during the trial the site statistics show an overall reduction in accidents on the stretches of the rural roads using Astucia Studs.”
