Efforts to cut both costs and carbon emissions are to include switching off the lighting on motorways between midnight and 5am, a time of low usage. This was one of the ideas received by the Coalition when it asked the public for ideas and could reduce lighting costs on motorways by 40%. As the Department of Transport has been earmarked for some of Whitehall’s biggest cuts, it is a particularly attractive idea.
According to the Highways Agency the plan would only be applied to sections of motorway with a good safety record, while more potentially dangerous areas such as junctions will remain lit. Currently only around half of Britain’s motorways are lit.
Chris Hardy, president of the Institution of Lighting Engineers, said: “Generally we think it is better to dim than switch off completely.” However, most motorway lighting is not dimmable and upgrading the light sources and control gear would be a very expensive operation.
Similar initiatives have been adopted or are being adopted on local roads by highways authorities across the country. They include Cornwall, Surrey, Blackpool, Luton, Neath, North Somerset, Plymouth, Medway and Warrington. In many cases they are installing equipment which allows lighting to be dimmed rather than turned off completely.
Source: The Guardian