Why not turn off most of the lights on motorways except for critical points such as junctions to save energy?

Answer 1

As far as i am aware this is already the case, certainly on the M5 in my experience.

Answer 2

Apart from the safety issues raised by others, the reason is that turning off the lights would most likely not save that much energy. Most current technology power stations generate power continuously, and can't be easily switched off and on. Nuclear power plants are the obvious case here - the radioactive decay will continue regardless of whether or not we need the power - but coal-fired power plants are also difficult to switch off.

In some cases the production can be scaled down during off peak periods, but some amount of electricity close to the peak requirement will be generated at all times of day and night. The peak requirement typically occurs during daylight hours, so streetlights don't increase that. During the night, the power stations will be running and generating energy anyway, so it may as well be used to keep the streetlights on.

Answer 3

In a word...

VISIBILITY !

You can see more under the bright orange glare, and most motorways these days are busy all night...Every night.

Outside major towns a lot of motorways do have unlit sections, the A1(m) certainly does just south of Hatfield. I nearly stacked my car into the central res' there because someone failed to dip thier lights... if it had full roadway lighting, they'd have been on dip already.

If you want unlit roads, use 'A' classified roads or 'B' roads, they go to the same places. If you want to save the world, try getting the USA to lower thier emissions, and get Tony Blair to do something about passenger jet's fuel consumption and polloution as they roar away over west London minute after minute all day long.

Answer 4

Have you seen the standard of driving on the roads today, the vast majority of people can't see in the daylight never mind the night, perhaps you should try driving a bit more often at night and stop trying to save the world

Answer 5

why not ban Christmas lights or charge businesses more when they leave their signs or lights on after they've closed.
lights along the roads are a safety issue.
of course everyone could volunteer to use their computer less. how many people do you think actually do useful things on their computers?

Answer 6

because motorway driving at night makes u feel even morer tired than normal driving, the lights help u keep focused

Answer 7

wtf are you fuucking stupid?! you NEED traffic lights or it become VERY hard to drive, you'd have A HUGE SPIKE in people running off the road

im asuming your an eco-nut worried about global warming

chill out its natural there isnt going to be an huge problem

sadly left wing nuts like you get elected man end of this country starts in 09' when we have a left wing president house n senate god only knows what retarded bills will be passed

Answer 8

a bit hard to do widespread I think.