Street Lighting

Councils across the UK have the opportunity to save around £35 million of taxpayers’ money each year, cut an estimated 150,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions and reduce light pollution by adopting new approaches to the way they light streets and traffic signs. Reports published in March 2009 conclude that major benefits are possible without necessarily switching street lights off.

 

The new advice to local authorities comes in a series of reports initiated by ADEPT in partnership with SCOTS, TfL (Transport for London), the ILE (Institution of Lighting Engineers), Transport Scotland and the HA (Highways Agency).

 

Publication of the reports follows research, much of which was undertaken by TRL (the UK’s Transport Research Laboratory) drawing on information from trials run by individual local authorities. The work was undertaken in recognition of the increasing pressure on local authorities to reduce the spiralling electricity costs associated with their lighting while tackling the environmental pressures of light pollution and CO2 emissions.

 

More information

The five reports that make up the street lighting study are available from the Transport Research Laboratory website - www.trl.co.uk

 

A Review of the Class and Quality of Street Lighting on Traffic Routes and Residential Streets

To determine the most appropriate level of lighting for different situations, bearing in mind road safety, crime prevention, environmental and energy considerations.

 

Guidance on Financial Returns from ‘Spend to Save’ Initiatives

To assist local authorities in the preparation of bids for funding to improve the efficiency of lighting systems and reduce energy costs.

 

A Review of Luminaire Maintenance Factors

To ensure lighting systems are working as efficiently as possible and energy use is minimised.

 

The Use of Passive Safety Lighting Columns on Local Roads & Consideration of HA TA 89/05

To consider any modifications that may be required to the current Highways Agency guidance regarding the provision of passively safe lighting and sign installations to make it appropriate for local authority roads.

 

A Review of the Requirements for Lighting of Signs and Bollards

To consider whether recommendations can be made for less signs and bollards to be lit, particularly those on refuges that are currently difficult to maintain.

Roadside Memorials

The practice of placing floral tributes at the scene of a road death is now commonplace. In some cases, permanent roadside memorials are being created.

 

While it is understandable that bereaved relatives feel a need to visit the scene of an accident as part of the grieving process, there may be serious road safety implications. By their nature, the locations of many road deaths tend to be places where it is not safe to stop or walk on the carriageway. The very act of placing a floral tribute at the scene therefore creates a potentially dangerous situation,

 

It would be difficult, hard-hearted and unenforceable to ban the placing of tributes. The way forward is therefore to try to manage the problem in a manner which will reduce the risk to a minimum, while satisfying the needs of the bereaved.

 

This SCOTS guidance (PDF, 0.9MB) seeks to assist.

Disabled Persons Parking Places

SCOTS members have worked with the Scottish Government to provide local authorities with valuable guidance on the implementation of the Disabled Person's Parking Places (Scotland ) Act 2010. The guidance has 12 sections which include handling requests for permits, promotion of proper use of such parking places, use of street parking orders and preparation of annual reports.

 

Download the Disabled Persons' Parking Places (Scotland) Act Implementation Guidance for Local Authorities. (PDF, 0.2MB)

Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) for Roads

SUDS (Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems) were introduced to the UK more than ten years ago and much of the early work developed in Scotland concentrated on the hydrology and water quality aspects of SUDS. Roads designers have been required to adapt to this new strategy without apparently having input to the processes. Equally, legislation has advanced significantly in the area of water management and, arguably, roads legislation has not kept up.

 

The recent growth and accrued benefits from the use of SUDS has been supported by the work of a range of public and private sector organisations, and facilitated by a series of documents. While many of these documents describe the suitable design of SUDS, few have provided appropriate advice and direction for practitioners involved in the design approval and adoption of SUDS within the road network boundary.

 

Early in 2008 the SUDS Scottish Working Party, guided by practitioners, took ownership of this disconnect and a committed group of professionals from a variety of industry stakeholders have worked collaboratively to resolve this issue.

 

'SUDS for Roads' is now intended to further advance knowledge of the interaction between roads and drainage within an urban context where roads are now multifunctional and must provide much more than sealed surfaces for wheeled vehicles.

 

Download SUDS for Roads (PDF, 7.1MB).

 

Download the SUDS for Roads Whole Life Costs Tool (Excel, 1.4MB)

National Roads Development Guide

The National Roads Development Guide was produced by SCOTS, supported by Transport Scotland and Scottish Government Planning and Architecture Division.

 

The guide supports Designing Streets and expands on its principles to clarify the circumstances in which it can be used.

 

Download the National Roads Development Guide (PDF, 37MB).