Street lights are a common feature of urban environments, but do they actually make people feel safer when walking at night? This is an important question, as feeling safe can have positive effects on people`s well-being, physical activity, social interaction, and community pride. In this article, we will explore the science of street lighting and how it relates to people`s perceptions of safety. The Effect of Street Lighting on Crime
One of the main reasons why people may feel safer with street lights is the assumption that they deter crime. However, the evidence for this is not conclusive. Some studies have found that installing or improving street lighting can reduce crime rates in an area, but others have found no such effect. For example, a large review of research by Welsh and Farrington (2008) found that new lighting was associated with a 21% reduction in crime, but this was also observed in daylight hours, suggesting that other factors were involved. On the other hand, a large statistical analysis by Bowers et al. (2014) found no link between crime rates and switching off or dimming street lighting at night. Therefore, it seems that street lighting may not have a direct or consistent impact on crime, but rather depends on the context and characteristics of each location. For instance, street lighting may be more effective in areas where there is already a high level of natural surveillance, such as busy streets with shops and pedestrians, than in isolated or deserted areas where potential offenders can hide or escape easily. The Effect of Street Lighting on Fear of Crime
Even if street lighting does not affect crime rates, it may still influence how people feel about their safety. Several studies have shown that brighter levels of light do make people feel safer when walking at night, and this can have positive consequences for their health and well-being. For example, a study by Fotios et al. (2015) found that increasing the average illuminance of street lighting was linked with improved feelings of safety, and this led to a significant increase in the number of minutes people spent walking each week. Another study by Uttley et al. (2018) found that improving street lighting can reduce the number of people who avoid leaving their homes at night, reduce social isolation, and increase community pride. However, not all types of street lighting are equally effective in making people feel safer. According to the research by Fotios et al. (2015), the uniformity of lighting, or how evenly the light is distributed, was more important than the average illuminance for people`s perceptions of safety. This means that it might be more important to have evenly spaced and aligned street lights, rather than very bright or very dim ones, to create a sense of security and comfort.
The Cost and Benefits of Street Lighting
Street lighting can improve the quality of life for many people by making them feel safer and encouraging them to use outdoor spaces at night. However, street lighting also has some drawbacks, such as the cost, the environmental impact, and the loss of the night sky. Street lighting costs money to install, maintain, and operate, and the UK`s annual bill is estimated at around £220 million. Street lighting also contributes to light pollution, which can have negative effects on wildlife and the natural world, such as disrupting the circadian rhythms, behaviour, and reproduction of many animals. Moreover, street lighting creates skyglow, which obscures the stars and planets and limits our appreciation of the natural beauty and wonder of the night sky. Therefore, street lighting should be used selectively and efficiently, and this requires good guidance and evidence to help those responsible for designing and managing our street lighting. The current guidelines for street lighting in the UK and many other countries are based on questionable or outdated evidence, and do not reflect the latest findings on how lighting affects people`s feelings of safety. That is why the lighting research group at the University of Sheffield undertook a programme of research to find out how lighting relates to feelings of reassurance after dark, and improve the evidence on which lighting guidelines are based.
Conclusion
Street lighting is a complex and controversial topic, and there is no simple answer to whether it makes people feel safer or not. Street lighting may or may not have an effect on crime, but it does have an effect on fear of crime, and this can have positive or negative consequences for people`s well-being, behaviour, and social interaction. Street lighting also has costs and benefits, both economic and environmental, and these need to be balanced and considered carefully. Street lighting should be designed and implemented based on sound and up-to-date evidence, and this is what the lighting research group at the University of Sheffield aims to provide. If you need to purchase lamps in bulk, please contact us.WOSEN is a professional manufacturer and supplier of Led Flood Light, Led Street Light, Led Solar Light, etc. For more information, please visit https://www.wosenled.com/ or contact admin@wosenled.com or WhatsApp +86-13425434349
References
- Bowers, K., K. Johnson, S. Guerette, L. Summers, and S. Poynton. 2014. [Spatial Displacement and Diffusion of Benefits among Geographically Focused Policing Initiatives: A Meta-Analytical Review." Journal of Experimental Criminology 10 (4): 515–548. 3
- Fotios, S., J. Uttley, A. Cheal, and C. Hara. 2015. [Using Field Surveys to Estimate the Effect of Road Lighting on Pedestrian Reassurance." Lighting Research and Technology 47 (6): 713–729. [4]
- Uttley, J., A. Liachenko Monteiro, and S. Fotios. 2018. [The Science of Street Lights: What Makes People Feel Safe at Night." The Conversation, September 28, 2018. 1
- Welsh, B. C., and D. P. Farrington. 2008. [Effects of Improved Street Lighting on Crime." Campbell Systematic Reviews 13. [5]
