and it took an expensive survey!!!

[recceranger]

Less lighting has no impact on crime or collisions, says report

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33692675

[FenlandPaul]

Great news and great to see it front page on BBC! I know that we've all known it for years, but having the logo of someone who's independent at the top of a report makes people sit up and listen, even if the conclusions are fairly obvious. That's why consultants make so much money advising companies on things that they probably knew anyway!

THis is a really useful report to use in our own local campaigns against pollution.

Paul

[JamesF]

Just saw this piece myself.

The reaction from the AA seems very odd to me.  Six road deaths (just over one per year) that may be partially attributable to lights being switched off out of almost 9,500 in total over the same period, whilst regrettable, is statistically meaningless.  To suggest that the findings of the research (done over a period three times as long as the AA took) are "surprising" and "different from their own analysis" on that basis looks hard to justify.

James

[JamesF]

Oh, this made me laugh, too:

"He said the AA advised its members to drive using their full beams on roads where street lights have been switched off"

Really?  They think the AA membership isn't capable of thinking of that themselves?

James

[PhobosPhil]

Most roads that have streetlights have either a 30mph limit or a 40 limit.  At that speed, I wouldn't have thought full beam was necessary.

[jkwhinfrey]

That's a good point. In many of those areas it's easy to forget to turn your headlights on because they make little difference.

I do hope people don't take that AA advice literally and drive everywhere that's not lit with full beams on. It'll blind the poor driver coming the other way leading to a sharp increase in head on collisions.

They'd probably blame that on the lack of street lighting.

James II

[happy-kat]

Yep nothing new there, time to rattle the local council who are not even dimming the lights.

[Stub Mandrel]

Most roads that have streetlights have either a 30mph limit or a 40 limit.  At that speed, I wouldn't have thought full beam was necessary.

When there are streetlights you don't need headlights, just sidelights, and in urban areas you should use dipped headlights.

https://www.gov.uk/general-rules-all-drivers-riders-103-to-158/lighting-requirements-113-to-116

Someone should tell the idjuts who think you need full foglights at all times - including broad daylight.

[RWB]

When there are streetlights you don't need headlights, just sidelights, and in urban areas you should use dipped headlights.

https://www.gov.uk/general-rules-all-drivers-riders-103-to-158/lighting-requirements-113-to-116

Someone should tell the idjuts who think you need full foglights at all times - including broad daylight.

As a retired HGV transport manager,I believe that dipped or dimmed head lights are mandatory during the hours of darkness

and to drive on 'side' lights is an offence as is using 'fog' lights when it is not foggy or falling snow in my circle of

'friends and acquaintances' are a number who have been pulled and dealt with by the courts for both of these 'offences' 

but like mobile 'phones there is always some numpty that is as thick as three long planks end to end

and will continue to ignore the rules !!!!! 

rant over godnight !  

Regards

               Robin

[Astro_Baby]

I think one of the big factors in road deaths these days is idiots walking round with a smartphone glued to their ear or so busy texting they forget to watch whats happening.  I have almost mowed down at least a dozen people who were so busy texting or gormlessly strolling along plugged into their smartphone that they had completely lost all sense of awareness and just casually strolled out into busy roads - only the fact I am watching out for them has kept them from messing up my cars paintwork and waking them out of their trance like state in the way that only being hit by a car can - a less aware driver or a distracted one would have just run them down.  Some of them have been  at a really busy road junction locally - Ever thought of maybe waiting for the traffic lights ?  No mate - I have an iphone app that protects me from 1/2 a ton of car doing 60mph - its called the shield of......(rude word self censored

Shame air horns aren't allowed anymore or else I would have some monster ones fitted to the car to scare them witless and maybe wake them up out of their semi-comatose state.

[pete_l]

Well, this report is one step - but it's only a step.

Most people aren't too bothered by "facts" and statistics. They run on perceptions. And sadly the perception (that starts as a child and is reinforced through peoples' lives via TV, accounts of crimes / crimewatch "advice" and "common sense") is that darkness is bad. It's where the ghosties anf ghoulies live. It's were the bad people hide and if you go out at night in the dark - why you're just bound to be stabbed, mugged or attacked by a vampire.

[Stub Mandrel]

As a retired HGV transport manager,I believe that dipped or dimmed head lights are mandatory during the hours of darkness

They weren't when I did my test in the 80s and if you follow my link you'll find the surprising truth that they still aren't when there is street lighting, although dip or dim dip is recommended (hardly any modern vehicles don't automatically go to dim dip when the sidelights are on and the engine running).

[Astro_Baby]

Strangely on this the AA flew into a huff over Hybrid and Electric cars being hit for road tax and said that a change in VED forcing electric cars to cough up for VED would mean the UK would miss its carbon targets etc etc.  If they are so worried about carbon emissions they should realise that lighting is a major energy drain on the UK and miles of streetlights wont be doing carbon emission reduction any favours. 

Two faced or what ?

[JamesF]

Strangely on this the AA flew into a huff over Hybrid and Electric cars being hit for road tax and said that a change in VED forcing electric cars to cough up for VED would mean the UK would miss its carbon targets etc etc.  If they are so worried about carbon emissions they should realise that lighting is a major energy drain on the UK and miles of streetlights wont be doing carbon emission reduction any favours. 

Two faced or what ?

"All these changes are fine, as long as  they only affect other people..."

James

[L8-Nite]

Darkness is good, as criminals won't know if there is someone laying in wait for them.  

[LukeSkywatcher]

Darkness is good, as criminals won't know if there is someone laying in wait for them.  

A Jack O' Lantern?. Or a yellow eyed ninja. Think i'll stick with my Yorkie (no not the chocolate bar). She is fearless...........apart from when it comes to going to the grooming parlour.  

[mcolbert]

Well, this report is one step - but it's only a step.

Most people aren't too bothered by "facts" and statistics. They run on perceptions. And sadly the perception (that starts as a child and is reinforced through peoples' lives via TV, accounts of crimes / crimewatch "advice" and "common sense") is that darkness is bad. It's where the ghosties anf ghoulies live. It's were the bad people hide and if you go out at night in the dark - why you're just bound to be stabbed, mugged or attacked by a vampire.

or if in the U.S. a zombie.

[mcolbert]

Darkness is good, as criminals won't know if there is someone laying in wait for them.  

yep, just ask Dave from Vermont!