RE: Britain's roads will get darker
Tuesday 20th February 2007
It's going to be darker on Britain's roads in future.
Britain's roads will get darker
Big streetlight switch-off will save energy
In a bid to save money and energy -- and add a greenwash to the idea -- the Department for Transport is planning to turn off or dim street lighting during lightly trafficked hours.
Roads minister Stephen Ladyman told the House of Commons: "The Department endorses 'Well-lit Highways', the code of practice on highway lighting management (December 2004, TSO) published by the UK Lighting Board.
"The Board, in conjunction with the Institution of Lighting Engineers, has also produced "Invest to Save", which provides guidance to local authorities considering adopting energy saving measures such as dimming or mid-night switching-off of lights. The effects of reducing lighting levels or turning lights off will vary from case to case.
"Any financial or environmental savings from reduced energy use would have to be balanced against potential adverse effects, for example on accidents or crime.
"The Highways Agency is currently reviewing all its standards for the provision of road lighting on the strategic road network, which will mean less new lighting being installed in future. The agency's review work also includes the development of an energy strategy for the management of existing lighting, which could include reduced lighting levels, and switching off lighting when roads are lightly trafficked.
"Trials are expected to start in 2007."
While reducing light pollution -- no bad thing, surely -- the impact on road safety will interesting to observe.
Discussion
Not only will accidents go up, which they will then blame speeding so they'll put in some more speed cameras, but crime will go up and all there network of CCTV cameras will be useless.
Dont get me wrong, this country does have far to much light polution and really does need to be sorted out.
I suppose you have to break a few eggs to make an omlette.
If we have a few more accidents, rapes, murders, hit and runs mugging etc etc each year then at least we are poluting the world less.
Shame China, India, America don't think about the environment!!!!!!
Dont get me wrong, this country does have far to much light polution and really does need to be sorted out.
I suppose you have to break a few eggs to make an omlette.
If we have a few more accidents, rapes, murders, hit and runs mugging etc etc each year then at least we are poluting the world less.
Shame China, India, America don't think about the environment!!!!!!
Shall we fit a PIR sensor to every street light in the country while we're at it?
its ridiculous that the government push so much for scameras to be installed to keep us safe, then at the same time want to half the number of MOTs and make roads darker.
Will probably just become an excuse for more folk to join the foglights-and-sidelights day running light club
its ridiculous that the government push so much for scameras to be installed to keep us safe, then at the same time want to half the number of MOTs and make roads darker.
Will probably just become an excuse for more folk to join the foglights-and-sidelights day running light club
Edited by cj_eds on Tuesday 20th February 12:55
bunglist said:
Not only will accidents go up, which they will then blame speeding so they'll put in some more speed cameras, but crime will go up and all there network of CCTV cameras will be useless.
Dont get me wrong, this country does have far to much light polution and really does need to be sorted out.
I suppose you have to break a few eggs to make an omlette.
If we have a few more accidents, rapes, murders, hit and runs mugging etc etc each year then at least we are poluting the world less.
Shame China, India, America don't think about the environment!!!!!!
Dont get me wrong, this country does have far to much light polution and really does need to be sorted out.
I suppose you have to break a few eggs to make an omlette.
If we have a few more accidents, rapes, murders, hit and runs mugging etc etc each year then at least we are poluting the world less.
Shame China, India, America don't think about the environment!!!!!!
Agree totally, i wonder how much more of the global pollution those 3 countries contribute- don't suppose anyone knows as it is all statistic based.
rsAll about money as we all know.
Government makes money off scameras - add more
Government spends money on street lights - turn them off
Government doesnt make money on MOT - half as often - arguably will cause accidents and pollute more.
Government makes money from congestion charge - add this. Electric cars add to congestion but are exempt. I can see this is a good incentive, but its not in the title is it!
Government makes money off scameras - add more
Government spends money on street lights - turn them off
Government doesnt make money on MOT - half as often - arguably will cause accidents and pollute more.
Government makes money from congestion charge - add this. Electric cars add to congestion but are exempt. I can see this is a good incentive, but its not in the title is it!
Whoever wrote this needs a sanity check, there were studies done a few years ago on this don't remember where. but they tried this for 2 weeks as a cost cutting exercise. Vehicle-Vehicle accidents went up something like 25%, Vehicle-Pedestrian accidents went up something like 200% and Vehicle-Cyclist about the same (how many cyclists do you see at night with no lights on?).
More incidently Theft, Rape and Violent crime went up something like 300%. As you can guess it was stopped immediately.
More incidently Theft, Rape and Violent crime went up something like 300%. As you can guess it was stopped immediately.
Dim or turn the lights off at midnight!!?! Isn't that when the ghoulies, vampires and thought-police come out to play!? 
Sounds like an early curfew and a bedtime cocoa to me!
So, summing up recent proposals then;
We all get charged to use the roads by a GPS-based toll system, (which, WE have to pay for and, coincidentally, records exactly where you've been and when you went there)
There will be lots more dangerous (arguably older) vehicles on the road (2yr MOT testing)- loaded with defective lights/brakes etc.- AND,-just to set the scene properly,- PITCH-BLACK roads after midnight for the adequate numbers of scameras to record all the carnage!
And all in the interests of preventing global warming?!- Oh do come on HMG!
Remember Trevor and Simon's motto? -
'STAY IN YOUR HOMES'!
Sounds like an early curfew and a bedtime cocoa to me!
So, summing up recent proposals then;
We all get charged to use the roads by a GPS-based toll system, (which, WE have to pay for and, coincidentally, records exactly where you've been and when you went there)
There will be lots more dangerous (arguably older) vehicles on the road (2yr MOT testing)- loaded with defective lights/brakes etc.- AND,-just to set the scene properly,- PITCH-BLACK roads after midnight for the adequate numbers of scameras to record all the carnage!
And all in the interests of preventing global warming?!- Oh do come on HMG!
Remember Trevor and Simon's motto? -
'STAY IN YOUR HOMES'!pugs9000 said:
bunglist said:
Not only will accidents go up, which they will then blame speeding so they'll put in some more speed cameras, but crime will go up and all there network of CCTV cameras will be useless.
Dont get me wrong, this country does have far to much light polution and really does need to be sorted out.
I suppose you have to break a few eggs to make an omlette.
If we have a few more accidents, rapes, murders, hit and runs mugging etc etc each year then at least we are poluting the world less.
Shame China, India, America don't think about the environment!!!!!!
Dont get me wrong, this country does have far to much light polution and really does need to be sorted out.
I suppose you have to break a few eggs to make an omlette.
If we have a few more accidents, rapes, murders, hit and runs mugging etc etc each year then at least we are poluting the world less.
Shame China, India, America don't think about the environment!!!!!!
Agree totally, i wonder how much more of the global pollution those 3 countries contribute- don't suppose anyone knows as it is all statistic based.
Well we are hardly in a position to tell off either China or India about their energy consumption, since they are still in the development cycle in which the UK has already peaked.
Saying that, I don't think there is enough artificial light in this country on fast arterial routes. I was on the A5 to Tamworth in the sheeting rain last night and could hardly see a damn thing :-(
JJ
WHY IS IT THAT ONLY phERS SEEM TO BE ABLE TO SPOT WHATS HAPPENING HERE?
we will be paying RLF, fuel duty and VAT, have a spy in the car that reports where you have been and charges you for your freedom.
We have Safety Scameras on the sole basis that they save lives, so what do they do?
Turn the lights off. That will cost lives and has someone has already said, that will be all the justification they need to put up more cameras and generate more revenue via this stealth tax.
I heard on the radio news today that the police will be able to take drivers finger prints at the roadsidea and will now, despite having promised that they wouldn't, trawl their data basa to see if it ties up with any previous convictions or crimes.
Big Brother is alive and well and here.
I read in the paper on sunday that your local council will soon be allowed access to your house to see if you have modernised or improved it in order to calculate your council tax.
So if you
live in a area which is clean and tidy you pay more tax
live in an area with low crime you pay more tax
Look after your house you pay more tax
have a shed or conservatory you pay more tax
So the police do that job that you are paying them to do and keep crime down you pay more for having gotten what you have already paid for FFS
So my plan is to trash my house and street, agree with neighbours a rota for taking it in turns to burgle each others house, and not buy the wife the new kitchen she wants.
How much tax will I pay??
loads!
An to really take the piss they are closing the public desk areas at Police stations
I bet crime figures go down as you won't be able to report a crime. which will increase the council tax bills.
AAAAAHAHHAHHHHHHHGGGGHH !!
LET ME OUT!!!!!!!!!!!
we will be paying RLF, fuel duty and VAT, have a spy in the car that reports where you have been and charges you for your freedom.
We have Safety Scameras on the sole basis that they save lives, so what do they do?
Turn the lights off. That will cost lives and has someone has already said, that will be all the justification they need to put up more cameras and generate more revenue via this stealth tax.
I heard on the radio news today that the police will be able to take drivers finger prints at the roadsidea and will now, despite having promised that they wouldn't, trawl their data basa to see if it ties up with any previous convictions or crimes.
Big Brother is alive and well and here.
I read in the paper on sunday that your local council will soon be allowed access to your house to see if you have modernised or improved it in order to calculate your council tax.
So if you
live in a area which is clean and tidy you pay more tax
live in an area with low crime you pay more tax
Look after your house you pay more tax
have a shed or conservatory you pay more tax
So the police do that job that you are paying them to do and keep crime down you pay more for having gotten what you have already paid for FFS
So my plan is to trash my house and street, agree with neighbours a rota for taking it in turns to burgle each others house, and not buy the wife the new kitchen she wants.
How much tax will I pay??
loads!
An to really take the piss they are closing the public desk areas at Police stations
I bet crime figures go down as you won't be able to report a crime. which will increase the council tax bills.
AAAAAHAHHAHHHHHHHGGGGHH !!
LET ME OUT!!!!!!!!!!!
About time someone thought of this.
How about on Motorways turning every other light off. There are generally two lights down the centre reservation on each lampost. After midnight turn alternate ones off so you just get less light not no light. This would then use half the energy that it currently does saving money and reducing emissions of CO2.
They could use reflective technology to guide the driver like strips on the centre barrier and improving catseyes.
How about on Motorways turning every other light off. There are generally two lights down the centre reservation on each lampost. After midnight turn alternate ones off so you just get less light not no light. This would then use half the energy that it currently does saving money and reducing emissions of CO2.
They could use reflective technology to guide the driver like strips on the centre barrier and improving catseyes.
It will only work where it can be shown that the lighting does not need to be on. So where there are no pedestrians, no cyclists, animals etc. It might presuade some of the numpties who drive along on side/tail lamps only to put their headlamps on.
I could see it being feasible say to switch off between 02:00 and 06:00, but with qualifications. It used to happen in Australia, where street lights went off at midnight. I also experience driving in S.Africa last year where there is no lighting outside the main residential streets and they have not yet found out about reflective paint or signs. that was scary, especially as the locals walked along both the verge and the central reservation.
I could see it being feasible say to switch off between 02:00 and 06:00, but with qualifications. It used to happen in Australia, where street lights went off at midnight. I also experience driving in S.Africa last year where there is no lighting outside the main residential streets and they have not yet found out about reflective paint or signs. that was scary, especially as the locals walked along both the verge and the central reservation.
How about demanding that all the companies wasting electricity turn their shit off at night Ie all the overlit electrical stores and nightclub/bars that have their signs shining brightly through the twighlight
Why is it all other countries cope with their lit motorway networks and streets, but the goverment in little Britain have another cunning plan to save the world!
Will these weapons grad Cocks get a grip on reality?
Sorry, that was a really stupid bloody question
Why is it all other countries cope with their lit motorway networks and streets, but the goverment in little Britain have another cunning plan to save the world!
Will these weapons grad Cocks get a grip on reality?
Sorry, that was a really stupid bloody question
As far as I am aware, the bulbs used in current street lighting, will not dim, they are either on or off.!!! SO they also need to review the science behind how the millions of aged street lighting could be dimmed......
In other words, lets spend millions changing the switch gear, columns and wiring to save a few pence every now and again. That is until every one who's tripped over a pot hole because they couldn't see it, starts legal proceedings.......
Oh dear, what a bad day, what with this rubbish, and pay to drive, I must dig out those emmigration papers again, and get em sent off to Australia.
In other words, lets spend millions changing the switch gear, columns and wiring to save a few pence every now and again. That is until every one who's tripped over a pot hole because they couldn't see it, starts legal proceedings.......
Oh dear, what a bad day, what with this rubbish, and pay to drive, I must dig out those emmigration papers again, and get em sent off to Australia.
odyssey2200 said:
WHY IS IT THAT ONLY phERS SEEM TO BE ABLE TO SPOT WHATS HAPPENING HERE?
we will be paying RLF, fuel duty and VAT, have a spy in the car that reports where you have been and charges you for your freedom.
We have Safety Scameras on the sole basis that they save lives, so what do they do?
I heard on the radio news today that the police will be able to take drivers finger prints at the roadside and will now, despite having promised that they wouldn't, trawl their data bases to see if it ties up with any previous convictions or crimes.
Big Brother is alive and well and here.
And to really take the piss they are closing the public desk areas at Police stations
I bet crime figures go down as you won't be able to report a crime. which will increase the council tax bills.
AAAAAHAHHAHHHHHHHGGGGHH !!
LET ME OUT!!!!!!!!!!!
we will be paying RLF, fuel duty and VAT, have a spy in the car that reports where you have been and charges you for your freedom.
We have Safety Scameras on the sole basis that they save lives, so what do they do?
I heard on the radio news today that the police will be able to take drivers finger prints at the roadside and will now, despite having promised that they wouldn't, trawl their data bases to see if it ties up with any previous convictions or crimes.
Big Brother is alive and well and here.
And to really take the piss they are closing the public desk areas at Police stations
I bet crime figures go down as you won't be able to report a crime. which will increase the council tax bills.
AAAAAHAHHAHHHHHHHGGGGHH !!
LET ME OUT!!!!!!!!!!!
Well screamed odyessy! However, I have to beg to differ regarding the crime figures reducing, as HMGPolice are now, (and have been for some time), actively promoting anonymous 'grassing-up' in radio/TV adverts, billboard ads, tube cards and the like.
In concept, some of this is very laudable -n.b.- for drugs, violent stuff etc - However, it probably won't work in practise as the 'little grasses' will be intimidated/assaulted/shot, by the bad-boys (and girls it seems).
It won't take long before they're getting the kiddies
to grass their parents up for minor infringements of Road Traffic Act! 
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