Street Lighting
POLICY DOCUMENT 3 - NOTES FOR GUIDANCE AND CONSULTATION
DOCUMENT FOR NEW OR REPLACEMENT STREET LIGHTING SCHEMES (page
1)
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1) INTRODUCTION
Bath and North East Somerset Council recognises that street
lighting is important to Householders, Parish Councils, Residents
Associations and Motorists. It is important as amenity lighting;
for security reasons; to assist in the reduction of crime; the
reduction of the fear of crime; and as a measure to assist with the
reduction of night time accidents.
At times it is necessary for a street lighting system to be
installed or replaced and we thought you would like to know more
about the process. This document only deals with schemes of a
significant nature. It does not deal with minor replacements or
emergency work undertaken immediately in the interest of safety.
This documentation has been produced by the Transportation and
Highways Service and was approved by the Planning Transportation
and Environment Committee of Bath and North East Somerset Council
on 20 January 2000. A Periodic review of this Policy was last
undertaken during May 2005 (Issue 1.2).
This policy outlines the basic principles and standards applying
to Street Lighting in Bath and North East Somerset Council’s area.
It sets out the aims of the Authority with respect to lighting
schemes and the approaches it will take in order to achieve those
aims. The overall objective is to produce schemes which, as far as
possible satisfy engineering, conservation and environmental
requirements whilst benefiting local communities.
The Main Aims are
- To Promote and maintain safety for all users of the highway
during the hours of darkness, with special consideration for all
vulnerable user groups (e.g. pedestrians, cyclists, the elderly,
the disabled and children).
- To aid in the reduction of night time accidents.
- To aid the police in the reduction of night time crime and the
reduction of the fear of crime.
- To enhance the day time and night time environment.
- To Avoid environmental intrusion which includes minimising
light pollution and to have regard to the aesthetic
impact.
2) LEGAL POWERS FOR LIGHTING HIGHWAYS
The primary responsibility for Street Lighting lies with the
Highway Authority. Lighting Authorities (such as Parish or Town
Councils) may maintain footway lighting (i.e. pavement) defined by
reference to the height and spacing of lamp standards. They may
also exercise other lighting powers with the consent of the Highway
Authority. The Local Government Act 1966 transferred responsibility
for street lighting from Rural District Councils, Parish Councils
or Parish meetings (Public Health Act 1875 or the Parish Councils
Act 1957) to the Highway Authority.
The Act also deprived Parish and District Councils of the power
to provide lighting on Adopted Highways (Irrespective of standards)
unless the consent of the Highway Authority was first obtained. The
1966 Act has now been repealed by section 343(3) of the Highways
Act 1980, and replaced with section 97 and 98 of the Highways Act
1980, which clearly states the following.
Highway Authorities may provide lighting for the purposes of any
Highway or proposed Highway for which they are or will be the
Highway Authority. Highway Authorities may agree with a Lighting
Authority for delegation to the Lighting Authority of any function
of the Highway Authority with respect to the lighting of any
highway or part of a highway within their parish. The Lighting
Authority shall in the discharge of any function delegated to them
act as agents to the Highway Authority and it shall be condition of
the delegation that: -
a) The works to be executed or expenditure incurred by the
Lighting Authority in the discharge of the delegated function are
to be subject to the approval of the Highway Authority.
b) The Lighting Authority are to comply with any requirement of
the Highway Authority as to the manner in which any such works are
to be carried out, and with any directions of the Highway Authority
as to the terms of contract to be entered into for the purposes of
the discharge of the delegated functions; and
c) Any such works are to be completed to the satisfaction of the
Highway Authority. If at any time the Highway Authority are
satisfied that a system in respect of which functions of that
authority are delegated under this section is not in proper repair
or condition, they may give notice to the Lighting Authority
requiring them to place it in proper repair or condition. And if
the notice is not complied with within a reasonable time may
themselves do anything which seems to them necessary to place the
system in proper repair or condition.
It should also be noted that such delegation of function can be
terminated upon the Highway Authority giving notice. The ability to
do so is subject to certain limitations concerning when such notice
can be given.
3) BENEFITS OF GOOD ROAD LIGHTING
Lighting makes an important contribution to highway safety for
both drivers and pedestrians. It can add to the quality of life and
can enhance the appearance and vitality of an area.
3.1 LIGHTING FOR REDUCTION OF ACCIDENTS
Extensive studies have shown that street lighting is a major
factor in improving road safety. The Department of Transport has
proven the better our roads are lit, the greater will be the
reduction in accidents. The General Summary of the collected data
clearly shows that good lighting can reduce night-time accidents by
up to 30% on our roads and up to 50% on our Motorway Network.
Our roads are changing in character. They are carrying greater
volumes of traffic at even faster speeds and the driving population
is becoming older. Inevitably these factors have led to an increase
in accidents and deaths. Most people feel safer when driving at
night if the roads are lit. Visibility is improved allowing
judgements to be made sooner and generally it leads to less intense
driving.
The latest figures (June 2003 table 4c) from The Department of
Transport show the costs of accidents on our roads:-
Fatality =£1,518,160
Serious injury =£ 180,040
Slight injury =£ 17,840
All injury =£ 78,360
Damage only =£ 1,520
Average value =£ 101,060
(inc damage only allowance)
The above figures take into account all costs associated with an
accident including Emergency Services, Hospital treatment, Court
cases, and traffic disruption. :
The current cost of installing 1 mile of lighting on a Principal
Road is £56,000 with an operation cost of £2,850 year. All the
above data enables a simple cost/benefit calculation of the value
of street lighting as an accident saving measure.
If one accident is prevented in the next 25 years by lighting ½
mile of road , the scheme would pay for itself. A second accident
prevented on the same ½ mile of road would be an added benefit.
3.2 LIGHTING FOR REDUCTION OF CRIME AND REDUCTION
OF THE FEAR OF CRIME
Street lighting also plays a significant part in reducing crime
and, just as importantly, reduction of the fear of crime. Extensive
research since the late 1980’s is documented in two Home Office
publications (“The influence of street lighting on crime and the
fear of crime” and “The effects of better street lighting on crime
and fear: a review”). More recently further research has looked at
cost benefit from the initial capital cost of the installation to
the savings made in time spent dealing with insurance claims and
police time.
The energy crisis in1974 saw the introduction of the three-day
working week as an energy saving measure and street lighting was
switched off. The Lighting Lobby had the foresight to keep records
of the incidence of reported crime. In Brighton, the Sussex Police
reported a 100% increase in burglary compared to the previous year.
In Preston there was an overall increase in crime of 55% during the
blackout. This was probably the first valid data showing the effect
of the absence of lighting, on crime against property. Studies in
the USA in the late 70s confirmed these findings The 80s, saw a
rise in crime against people and this, together with the riots in
the Inner Cities, made people look again at the value of outdoor
lighting. If it deterred theft could it also deter attacks or
threatening behaviour on our streets? The experts were convinced
but proof was needed.
In 1987 a series of controlled studies started investigating the
effect of street lighting on crime In a controlled area street
interviews were carried out before and after the lighting was
improved. The ‘before’ interviews revealed a fear of crime, to the
point where some of those interviewed admitted to carrying what
would be regarded as an offensive weapon. In the ‘after’
interviews, carried out a short while after the lighting was
improved, over 80% of those questioned mentioned this without
prompting and there was a reduction in both actual crimes and the
fear of crime. So positive was the result from the first two
studies that they were repeated in all our major cities. Firm
evidence is now available to show that good Street Lighting can
reduce the number of acts of crime, increase the numbers of
pedestrians on the street and reduce the fear of crime.
Crime statistics only record the number of reported incidents
and it is known that this underestimates the true number by up to 4
times. What they will never show is how widespread the fear of
crime is. If people are frightened to go out of their homes, there
are fewer people on the street. The fewer people on the street, the
less public surveillance there is and the less public surveillance
there is the higher the probability of an offence being committed.
Reduce the fear of crime and we break this cycle. Lighting can
break this cycle, get people back out onto our streets at night and
prevent us turning into a fortress society.
But what is good Street Lighting? Pedestrians need to be able to
see and be seen; and need to be able to recognise a potential
attacker in time to take evasive action. This means good facial
recognition at a distance of at least 10m. Lighting must therefore
be designed to aid this recognition. Unfortunately we are suffering
from the legacy of the early days of street lighting.
Whilst the equipment has improved enormously, it is often
mounted at positions that can date back to the early days of gas
lighting. Pools of light are followed by dark gaps where any sort
of recognition is impossible. The solution is not cheap because
improvement in visibility usually means reducing the spacings
between columns. This can involve replacing an entire
infrastructure over many miles of roads. Improvements can only take
place if people are bold enough to make e decisions and design for
the future.
4) CONCEPTS OF GOOD DESIGN PRACTICE
4.1 GENERAL DESIGN CONSIDERATION
How can we ensure that alighting design solution chosen provides
the best overall value whilst achieving excellence in lighting
design? Good lighting design is not simply a case of selecting a
light from a catalogue or obtaining lighting levels from a
computer. A multitude of different considerations should all form
part of the design process and some of these are:-
1. Determine the requirements of the customer or end user
2. Can we provide a solution that is environmentally friendly
for day time and night time environments and minimises sky glow
3. Energy consumption/savings
4. Life costing
5. Safety
6. Performance and reliability
Groups which have an impact on and interest in the design of
street lighting include:
Parish Councils, Residents, Heritage societies, Astronomers, The
Highway Authority and Lighting Engineers and often a compromise is
necessary to try and satisfy them all.
4.2 HEIGHT, SPACE AND ARRANGEMENT RATIO
Many people ask why the new columns are taller than the old
ones?. The reasons are advances in design and modern lighting
requirements.
To achieve modern lighting requirements in terms of levels of
and uniformity of light, it would be necessary to place lower
height columns at more frequent intervals than higher columns. This
would increase both visual clutter and obstructions on the street;
increase the number of assets to be maintained and cost more in
energy terms.
All of these factors have negative implications in terms of cost
and the environment. Thus it can be seen that taller columns are
both more cost effective and more environmentally friendly.
4.3 COMMONLY USED LIGHT SOURCES
Two main light sources are currently used for street
lighting:-
· Low Pressure Sodium
· High Pressure Sodium
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Low Pressure Sodium
This produces a monochromatic light source covering a very
narrow band within the yellow range on the electromagnetic spectrum
that glows orange. Colours seen under this type of light will only
appear as shades of orange or black. However, this type of lamp is
highly energy efficient producing 123 -200 lumens per watt.
High Pressure Sodium
This produces light that covers all ranges within the
electromagnetic spectrum thus improving colour rendition. This
means that colours are seen normally and visual recognition is
significantly improved. This type of lamp is still relatively
energy efficient producing 80-138 lumens per watt.
4.4 RELEVANT PUBLICATIONS
There are a number of guidance documents, advice notes and
British and European Standards that should be complied with for all
new or existing designs. These are as follows:-
BS 5489-1&2:2003 Code of Practice for the Design of Road
Lighting.
European Standard BS EN 13201-2,3&4:2003 Road
Lighting.
The above document’s covers all aspects of road lighting design
from Motorways to subsidiary roads and includes the lighting of all
junctions, roundabouts and pedestrian areas.
The document sets good practice for the lighting of all the
above ensuring appropriate light levels. Road lighting designed to
meet the standards set out in BS 5489 is likely to require lighting
units spaced regularly at around 30-40 metres.
Where possible all new or replacement schemes installed by the
Authority will be based on this recognised code of practice.
Institution of Lighting Engineers,
Guidance Notes for the Reduction of Light Pollution
This guidance note gives examples of good and bad practice in
lighting installations, includes simple diagrammatic examples of
such installations, and explains the concept of environmental
zoning including the amount of upward light acceptable within these
zones whether they be towns/cities or rural villages. This
documentation will be considered when new or replacement schemes
are carried out.
