Posted on 10/27/2012 5:07:08 PM PDT by BenLurkin
Lights are being turned off on motorways and major roads, in town centres and residential streets, and on footpaths and cycle ways, as councils try to save money on energy bills and meet carbon emission targets. The switch-off begins as early as 9pm.
They are making the move despite concerns from safety campaigners and the police that it would lead to an increase in road accidents and crime.
The full extent of the blackout can be disclosed following an investigation by The Sunday Telegraph - which comes on the day that clocks moved back an hour, making it dark earlier in the evening - and found that:
3,080 miles of motorways and trunk roads in England are now completely unlit;
a further 47 miles of motorway now have no lights between midnight and 5am, including one of Britains busiest stretches of the M1, between Luton and Milton Keynes;
out of 134 councils which responded to a survey, 73% said they had switched off or dimmed some lights or were planning to;
all of Englands 27 county councils have turned off or dimmed street lamps in their areas.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
In Britain, freeways are called motorways. In Southern California, some dirt roads, mostly in the hills, are dubbed "motorways," perhaps because they can be used by automobiles. This designation probably comes from the early days of motor vehicles.
Brits: Not exactly the brightest bulbs on the lamp posts.
I’ve never understood the need for overhead lamps on city streets and intown highways/interstates.
Of course I grew up in the country, but cars have headlights that work perfectly fine for lighting one’s path.
More break-ins... Shame the good citizens are disarmed.
“More break-ins... Shame the good citizens are disarmed.”
Hard to shoot the burglar when you can’t even see him break in.
The better to disappear people.
That seems to be the new work of the UK govt.
I wish my stupid neighbors would turn off their a/c. It runs constantly and they may come once a month to check on the house.
The real issue is not bs lawsuits but the continual increase in electricity usage by cities counties and government in general. Traffic signals alone proliferating like rabbits and should be off or flashing from 10pm to 6am weekdays, and street lighting could be cut in half. LED’s would help considerably but are still a budget buster. As long as the economy is in the condition it is in, tax increases, balanced approaches, revenue raising, fee increases, and any other such nonsense should be avoided at all costs, while whittling away at previous money raising successes, and for sure avoiding increases in full time bureaucratic employees.
Anyone have that picture that shows North Korea at night?
I think it is an excellent idea. Get the collective used to not having lights, later you can reduce or eliminate heating in sacrifice to the Carbon Emission gods. Suffering usually follows stupidity.
First think I thought of when I read the story. Only an eco-nut would look at this picture:
...and admire North Korea because of it.
Ive never understood the need for overhead lamps on city streets and intown highways/interstates.
Of course I grew up in the country, but cars have headlights that work perfectly fine for lighting ones path.
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Much of such lighting is to deter crime against persons and property in both residential and business areas.
The Brits are nuts to even buy in to the hoax regarding carbon emissions and global warming.
LOL! Whenever I was assigned to some garden spot arriving at night, I could tell just how bad things would be in country by the extent of lights visible upon approach. By this measure, Haiti, and even Niger had more going for it than North Korea!
Yes, I get that. But I thinkthe lights over the interstate system and major roads isn't needed. Quite an expense otherwise to deter thieves. Cheaper to just buy lead I think.
Excellent point ..... But hope springs eternal.
Bring back the link boy! I'm sure people would be chuffed at employing an urban youth to guide them down dark streets.
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