The primary purpose of street lighting is to promote visibility during the night

The Importance of Street Lighting

When installing new street lights, the city will hang a notice on the door of adjacent property owners to notify them that the streetlight installation will take place soon. The notice will also include a phone number for the property owners. Lighting priorities will depend on the location and type of traffic. High-traffic areas, such as main streets and pedestrian areas, will receive first priority. Mid-block residential street locations will be given a lower priority rating. New subdivisions will have their streetlights installed as part of the development process.

The first generation of streetlights used mercury vapor streetlight assemblies. These lights were a vast improvement over incandescent lamps, which emitted an eerie, bluish green glow. However, because of their color, these streetlights were initially disliked by people because of their lack of visual clarity and ultraviolet output. In addition, mercury vapor lamps are more expensive than their sodium counterparts and tend to last less than half the time.

Some streets use tubular poles with a canopy atop. This style of street lighting is installed from the outside, so it has a long service life. Some research has suggested that good lighting, free of shadows, can reduce crime. Community groups are convinced that lighting is an important tool in the crime-fighting arsenal, and often get utilities to bend to their will. However, the jury is still out on whether high street lighting deters crime.

While street lighting can help people stay safe at night, it can also contribute to a city's overall aesthetics. By increasing streetlight visibility, you can increase the amount of people walking, cycling, and using public transportation. Nonetheless, increased streetlighting costs will increase your monthly overhead, so it is wise to consider energy-saving measures before making a final decision. The benefits of increased streetlighting will outweigh the costs. So, before you decide on which lights to install, consider the goals of the community and the design of the street.

The primary purpose of street lighting is to promote visibility during the night, but it is crucial to consider the human users of the street. Lighting for pedestrian activity should be given priority over automobile traffic. Instead of installing standard overhead street lights, consider using smaller, more frequent-spaced pedestrian fixtures. Furthermore, consider the secondary uses of light poles. If the street is wide, consider installing an extended light source over the roadbed. The height of the light fixture will determine the arc of light that will illuminate it.