definition of a street light?

[bryan35]

what exactly is a 'street light'?

Sure that I've read that they have to be bellow a certain height, etc.......

[timsta]

True. I remember reading one of the posts here that refered to someone getting off because the "street lights" were there to illuminate the pavement, not the road.

[7db]

Not seen chapter and verse on this, but ABD has some indiaction about what they would like the rule to be.

[Dwight VanDriver]

Street Lighting:

Street lighting or carriageway lighting for the purposes of lighting a road mean the same. For ease of use this guidance uses the general term 'street lighting' to cover all lighting that lights a road.

Any fitting that throws light on a carriageway constitutes street lighting and Traffic Authorities should bear this in mind as in principle this could include any lights on adjoining buildings or other lights not specifically put in place for road illumination. Ultimately it would be for a court to decide whether 'street lighting' was in operation in a particular place.

There is also no definition of what constitutes a 'system' of street lighting for the purposes of speed limit signing. However, it is generally recognised that a 'system' could be three or more lamps spaced not more than 183 metres apart.

The Department will not make exceptions to this rule. This means it should be assumed that, unless an order has been made and the road is signed to the contrary, a 30mph speed limit applies where there are three or more lamps throwing light on the carriageway and placed not more than 183 metres apart.

Extracted from Circular Roads 1/83 advice to LA's from DofT.

With regard to the second para I seem to recall (but cannot find my reference) that a Magistrate down south (Bournemouth?)threw out a speeding charge as the 'street lighting' was from an adjoining road and not the one where the offence was committed and which did not have lighting.

[vonhosen]

Dwight VanDriver said:

The Department will not make exceptions to this rule. This means it should be assumed that, unless an order has been made and the road is signed to the contrary, a 30mph speed limit applies where there are three or more lamps throwing light on the carriageway and placed not more than 183 metres apart.

A "special road" (motorway) is an exception to the rule.

[timsta]

vonhosen said:

Dwight VanDriver said: The Department will not make exceptions to this rule. This means it should be assumed that, unless an order has been made and the road is signed to the contrary, a 30mph speed limit applies where there are three or more lamps throwing light on the carriageway and placed not more than 183 metres apart. A "special road" (motorway) is an exception to the rule.

Yes, but a motorway is "signed to the contary."

[vonhosen]

timsta said:

vonhosen said: Dwight VanDriver said: The Department will not make exceptions to this rule. This means it should be assumed that, unless an order has been made and the road is signed to the contrary, a 30mph speed limit applies where there are three or more lamps throwing light on the carriageway and placed not more than 183 metres apart. A "special road" (motorway) is an exception to the rule. Yes, but a motorway is "signed to the contary."

A motorway with street lamps doesn't require NSL repeaters though (unlike any other road that isn't a 30)

[timsta]

vonhosen said:

A motorway with street lamps doesn't require NSL repeaters though (unlike any other road that isn't a 30)

Ah, I see what you mean.

Does a NSL require repeaters though?

[vonhosen]

timsta said:

vonhosen said: A motorway with street lamps doesn't require NSL repeaters though (unlike any other road that isn't a 30) Ah, I see what you mean. Does a NSL require repeaters though?

With street lights yes, without street lights no.