Poor lighting puts people off driving, according to Yotta research

Just over a quarter of UK adults in a recent survey said they avoid driving after dark because of poor street lighting on their local roads. The research, commissioned by technology company Yotta, polled 1,000 UK adults. The results found that many people are also put off from walking or cycling through local green spaces after dark by poor lighting. Nearly one-third (30%) said they are less likely to visit them because of the quality of the lighting. In addition, more than one quarter (26%) of respondent
January 9, 2019 Read time: 2 mins

Just over a quarter of UK adults in a recent survey said they avoid driving after dark because of poor street lighting on their local roads.

The research, commissioned by technology company 8110 Yotta, polled 1,000 UK adults. The results found that many people are also put off from walking or cycling through local green spaces after dark by poor lighting.

Nearly one-third (30%) said they are less likely to visit them because of the quality of the lighting. In addition, more than one quarter (26%) of respondents overall said the quality of street lighting in their town or city made them feel less safe about going out after dark, compared to just 19% who said the lighting quality made them feel safer.  

Despite concerns about the quality of street lighting, 17% of UK adults believed the council are inefficient at fixing broken street lights in their local town or city.

In addition, when respondents were asked what public areas they would be happy for lighting to be switched off to help the council reduce costs,  the “no areas” option received 32% of the vote. Minor roads were cited by 19% of respondent and motorways by 18%.

Highway & Network Management

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • A history lesson in private public partnerships
    April 12, 2012
    Michel Démarre gives some historical insights into public-private partnerships conceived to implement urban infrastructure projects, a concept that surprisingly dates back to as early as the 13th century! All over the world today, the role of public authorities in the process of planning and, in most cases, designing, financing and procuring urban roads is paramount. Even for modifications to existing roads, decisions are made by these public authorities (usually after due consultation with the population)
    Read More
  • London’s pedestrians’ to gain greater sense of safety
    March 11, 2014
    The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, and Transport for London (TfL) are keen to trial cutting-edge pedestrian crossing sensors to help make it easier and safer for people to cross the road throughout England’s capital. The news comes alongside the completion of the first phase of the Pedestrian Countdown programme and the publication of 'Safe London Streets - Our Six Road Safety Commitments', a new document which makes clear how TfL, the boroughs and its partners will meet London's target of reducing the nu
    Read More
  • Speeding and distracted present major road safety threats
    November 21, 2016
    Speeding and distracted driving are key concerns for UK road users. Those are seen as the highest threat to safety according to a survey carried out jointly by road safety charity Brake, Aviva and Specsavers. The survey asked 1,000 drivers to identify which driving behaviour, from a list of six, they thought posed the biggest danger. And 76% ranked speeding or distraction most highly. Driving under the influence was also ranked highly, with 18% thinking drink- and drug-drivers are the biggest threat. But
    Read More
  • Improving safety for older drivers
    February 3, 2016
    A new report by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) shows that older motorists favour tighter health and ability tests on the over-70s to drive. The IAM report, Keeping Older Drivers Safe and Mobile, shows that most older drivers agree with tighter rules on checking health and suitability, even if those checks could take them off the road themselves.
    Read More

Highlighted Content