Brighter does not mean safer
Lighting up the nighttime environment does not necessarily improve safety or security. This may seem contradictory, but there is no clear scientific evidence that increased outdoor lighting deters crime and increases safety.
Poor lighting creates a false sense of security
You want to keep your property safe from theft or vandalism and keep you and others safe from physical threats. However, badly designed lighting can actually make you less safe by helping criminals.
Bright and poorly aimed lights can hide danger by creating contrasts between light and dark areas. This makes shadows where criminals can hide. All this light means that criminals can see the contents of parked cars and case the area for onlookers, all without needing to use flashlights, which could alert someone to their presence.
Solutions
Effective lighting that helps people be safe, not just “feel” safe, is a win-win situation for everyone. You can keep a safer environment while keeping the night natural. Here are some simple things to do:
- Use fully shielded, dark-sky friendly fixtures. That means lights shine down, not up, and don’t create glare and contrasts.
- Only use lights when and where needed. Install timers and dimmer switches, and turn off lights when not in use. If you need security lighting, use motion sensors. That improves safety and lowers your cost at the same time.
- Use the right amount of light. Too much light is wasteful and impairs vision. Besides, why give Rocky Mountain Power any more money than you have to?
- Use long-wavelength lights with a red or yellow tint to minimize negative health effects.