The proposal could see lighting on A-roads dimmed throughout hours of low traffic.

Recent proposals from The Highways Agency could see lights on major A-roads dimmed in a bid to save money and reduce carbon emissions.

The proposals suggest reducing light levels on thousands of miles of A-roads when traffic levels are “very low”.

The plans came to light after Lib Dem local transport minister Norman Baker provided a written answer to a parliamentary question from Conservative MP Daniel Kawczynski.

In his reply, Mr Baker Wrote: “The Highways Agency has plans to reduce the level of lighting on A-roads when traffic levels are significantly below road capacity.”

Mr Baker said he supported the move provided safety was not compromised. “The level of light reduction will be based upon internationally agreed standards and made in consultation with the UK’s Institution of Lighting Professionals,” he said.

When asked to comment on the proposals, John McDonnell, managing director at Harvard Engineering − a lighting company specialising in dimming − said: Harvard are big believers in the phrase ‘The right light at the right time’. As a company we believe that reducing the lighting levels through dimming is a much safer and viable alternative to ‘switching off’.”

“CMS systems … make it easy to intelligently control outdoor lighting by setting bespoke lighting levels dependant on time and location. This, like switching off, delivers energy savings but also ensures there is safe and sufficient light levels.”

The Insitute of Lighting Professionals (ILP) also welcomed the move as a much better alternative to the blackouts that local authorities have been implementing recently.

Stuart Bulmer, a member of the Professional Services Team at the ILP, said: “The recent announcement by the Highways Agency to employ the use of dimming in an effort to reduce energy usage and the consequent reduction of carbon is seen by the ILP as a step in the right direction.

“Since 2003 the standards for lighting have given lighting professionals the increased option of dimming the lighting to match the amount of traffic using the highways.

“Prior to this, an accident at a site where the lighting was not to the British Standard could have left the lighting engineer and indeed the Local Authority in a difficult legal position.For whilst there is no mandatory obligation on an Authority to light, if it is in place then it must be maintained to the correct standard to avoid the accusation of being legally negligent.

“This pioneering move by the Highways Agency could signal the onset of a new era in highway lighting and this approach is welcomed by the ILP, rather than that of switching off lighting purely for financial reasons, as has been seen in parts of the country.” Bulmer said.

The research into when and where lighting could be dimmed will begin in the next financial year of 2012/13.

Source: Scott Waddington & Lighting.co.uk