Making The World A Safer Place With Lighting

Lighting in public spaces and important areas has the multifold function of enhancing the attractiveness and improving security. At the same time, it cannot serve as a burden to the development authorities. The purpose of exterior lighting is to improve the efficiency of human activity during the time when it is dark and to make outdoor areas safe, secure, and comfortable. Every city, in its endeavor to contribute to the economy of the nation, relies on impeccable infrastructure. The network of roads is a crucial part of the infrastructure and authorities are under constant pressure to bring down their energy costs and environmental impact without compromising on the safety of road users.

The Role of Lighting

Open public spaces need to look attractive and should be safe for the public to access. When town planners conceive these spaces, what will matter most is whether people will use these spaces or not. The utility factor will be a deciding factor in the success of public spaces, apart from design and location. The exterior lighting of these spaces plays such a crucial role. This is where technical engineering solutions should be combined with urban strategies and the two should work in tandem if these public spaces are to be optimally utilized. Otherwise, on the one extreme, you may have a purely technical solution complying with all the laws and regulations and on the other extreme, you may have a beautiful looking lighting solution, both of which may not be practical or useful on their own.

Public Safety

Road accidents are a major cause of deaths and injuries, especially in low and middle-income countries. It accounts for nearly 2.3 million deaths globally. Exterior lighting has been suggested as a low-cost intervention with tremendous potential to reduce road accidents. While it may tempt some to switch off public lighting in order to reduce costs, there are serious implications to this which may lead to more road accidents and an increase in crime. In New Delhi, notorious for its crime against women, the Government has indicated the need to install over two hundred thousand street lights in a bid to make the city safer for women. Several studies have been conducted and they all indicate that better-illuminated areas improve the confidence of the public and give them a sense of security.

Light At The End Of The Tunnel

LED exterior lighting is the most innovative lighting solution addressing environmental concerns as well as the rising cost pressure on the city administration. These solutions are attractive, practical, sustainable and efficient. LED solutions can save up to 80% on energy costs. These lights are often brighter and last much longer than traditional fluorescent or incandescent lights with near-zero maintenance. They produce negligible heat and are very versatile. The energy saving can still be enhanced further by dimming lights when not required. LED lighting can be used in a variety of applications from footpaths to main highways. This is the perfect solution where costs can be reduced in the long run while still enhancing driving conditions and offering more security in public spaces.

It is an arduous task for town planners and development authorities to ensure the safety of the citizens. While road accidents and crimes cannot be eliminated, the authorities can take measures to provide facilities as basic as street lights to reduce the instances of accidents and to instill confidence and enhance the safety of its residents. 

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Created on Oct 13th 2020 07:10. Viewed 510 times.

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