Environment and roads

Roads and road signs

Roads

Road lighting assists mobility during hours of darkness for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles, it reduces the risks of accidents and deters vandalism and crime. Pedestrian crossings provide a safe crossing environment for the user.

British Standard BS 5489 gives the design objectives for planning effective road lighting on all roads. Road safety for both motorists and pedestrians is the main consideration in designing road lighting systems. They need to be provided with enough light to be able to assess and react to unexpected situations in good time. Major traffic routes are lit for highway safety with residential areas being lit for the safety of all users be they motorists, cyclists or pedestrians.

There are various environmental considerations that need to be taken into account when considering the installation of street and other exterior lighting. These are the direct energy usage, the visual impact of the lighting equipment during the day, the effect of light spillage on surrounding areas, the spill of light into the night sky and the effects on animal and plant life.

These factors vary depending upon the location of the proposed lighting installation and a balance must be struck between them to provide the best possible design.

Aesthetic appearance during the daytime is also an important consideration within the design process and some areas, such as Conservation areas, may have specific requirements for the appearance and type of equipment used. These requirements need to be taken into account as part of the design process. In addition the heights of lanterns and the protective finish for the columns need to be chosen so that the columns do not dominate the landscape and, as far as possible, are not taller than the adjacent properties.

Road signs

Not all highway and advertisement signs need to be lit, under current regulations certain highway route signs no longer require electric lighting due to the use of highly reflective materials. This reduces energy use and the effect on the night-time environment.