❓ Dr. Constable raises concerns about the potential negative impacts of turning off street lights at 1:00 am, citing research on crime prevention and road safety. The answer confirms the potential for increased crime and reduced safety.
AnsweredQoN 2072Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Good lighting in any form, whether it is in the street or on private property, is an essential element in preventing crime, particularly in relation to the perception of crime. All night street lighting makes people feel safer within their community and can contribute to public safety by improving visibility, increasing the risk that offenders will be detected and recognised. Increased street lighting can also increase the general surveillance of an area and enhance public confidence. The Office of Crime Prevention has advised that recent UK research provides a strong indication that improved street lighting can cause a reduction in crime. The Home Office publication " The Effects of Improved Street Lighting on Crime : A Systematic Review" noted: "The conclusions showed that improved lighting should be included as one element of a situational crime reduction programme. It is an inclusive intervention benefiting the whole of a neighbourhood and leads to an increase in perceived public safety. Improved street lighting is associated with greater use of public space and neighbourhood streets by the community" (2002 ). In regards to road safety, many Australian and international studies and reviews on the effect of street lighting show that adequate lighting decreases crash rates. There are particularly clear benefits for vulnerable road users, such as motorcyclists, bicyclists, elderly road users, children and pedestrians (especially intoxicated pedestrians). Turning the street lights off at 1:00 am would be likely to increase the number of incidents involving these road users. While less crashes occur between midnight and 6:00 am, road users are at increased relative risks at these times. There are fewer people on the roads but statistics show they are more likely to crash. Turning off the street lights at 1:00 am would be expected to impact on this group of already vulnerable road users.
The Office of Crime Prevention has advised that recent UK research provides a strong indication that improved street lighting can cause a reduction in crime. The Home Office publication " The Effects of Improved Street Lighting on Crime : A Systematic Review" noted: "The conclusions showed that improved lighting should be included as one element of a situational crime reduction programme. It is an inclusive intervention benefiting the whole of a neighbourhood and leads to an increase in perceived public safety. Improved street lighting is associated with greater use of public space and neighbourhood streets by the community" (2002 ). In regards to road safety, many Australian and international studies and reviews on the effect of street lighting show that adequate lighting decreases crash rates. There are particularly clear benefits for vulnerable road users, such as motorcyclists, bicyclists, elderly road users, children and pedestrians (especially intoxicated pedestrians). Turning the street lights off at 1:00 am would be likely to increase the number of incidents involving these road users. While less crashes occur between midnight and 6:00 am, road users are at increased relative risks at these times. There are fewer people on the roads but statistics show they are more likely to crash. Turning off the street lights at 1:00 am would be expected to impact on this group of already vulnerable road users.
"The conclusions showed that improved lighting should be included as one element of a situational crime reduction programme. It is an inclusive intervention benefiting the whole of a neighbourhood and leads to an increase in perceived public safety. Improved street lighting is associated with greater use of public space and neighbourhood streets by the community" (2002 ). In regards to road safety, many Australian and international studies and reviews on the effect of street lighting show that adequate lighting decreases crash rates. There are particularly clear benefits for vulnerable road users, such as motorcyclists, bicyclists, elderly road users, children and pedestrians (especially intoxicated pedestrians). Turning the street lights off at 1:00 am would be likely to increase the number of incidents involving these road users. While less crashes occur between midnight and 6:00 am, road users are at increased relative risks at these times. There are fewer people on the roads but statistics show they are more likely to crash. Turning off the street lights at 1:00 am would be expected to impact on this group of already vulnerable road users.
In regards to road safety, many Australian and international studies and reviews on the effect of street lighting show that adequate lighting decreases crash rates. There are particularly clear benefits for vulnerable road users, such as motorcyclists, bicyclists, elderly road users, children and pedestrians (especially intoxicated pedestrians). Turning the street lights off at 1:00 am would be likely to increase the number of incidents involving these road users. While less crashes occur between midnight and 6:00 am, road users are at increased relative risks at these times. There are fewer people on the roads but statistics show they are more likely to crash. Turning off the street lights at 1:00 am would be expected to impact on this group of already vulnerable road users.
While less crashes occur between midnight and 6:00 am, road users are at increased relative risks at these times. There are fewer people on the roads but statistics show they are more likely to crash. Turning off the street lights at 1:00 am would be expected to impact on this group of already vulnerable road users.
The Office of Crime Prevention has advised that recent UK research provides a strong indication that improved street lighting can cause a reduction in crime. The Home Office publication " The Effects of Improved Street Lighting on Crime : A Systematic Review" noted: "The conclusions showed that improved lighting should be included as one element of a situational crime reduction programme. It is an inclusive intervention benefiting the whole of a neighbourhood and leads to an increase in perceived public safety. Improved street lighting is associated with greater use of public space and neighbourhood streets by the community" (2002 ). In regards to road safety, many Australian and international studies and reviews on the effect of street lighting show that adequate lighting decreases crash rates. There are particularly clear benefits for vulnerable road users, such as motorcyclists, bicyclists, elderly road users, children and pedestrians (especially intoxicated pedestrians). Turning the street lights off at 1:00 am would be likely to increase the number of incidents involving these road users. While less crashes occur between midnight and 6:00 am, road users are at increased relative risks at these times. There are fewer people on the roads but statistics show they are more likely to crash. Turning off the street lights at 1:00 am would be expected to impact on this group of already vulnerable road users.
"The conclusions showed that improved lighting should be included as one element of a situational crime reduction programme. It is an inclusive intervention benefiting the whole of a neighbourhood and leads to an increase in perceived public safety. Improved street lighting is associated with greater use of public space and neighbourhood streets by the community" (2002 ). In regards to road safety, many Australian and international studies and reviews on the effect of street lighting show that adequate lighting decreases crash rates. There are particularly clear benefits for vulnerable road users, such as motorcyclists, bicyclists, elderly road users, children and pedestrians (especially intoxicated pedestrians). Turning the street lights off at 1:00 am would be likely to increase the number of incidents involving these road users. While less crashes occur between midnight and 6:00 am, road users are at increased relative risks at these times. There are fewer people on the roads but statistics show they are more likely to crash. Turning off the street lights at 1:00 am would be expected to impact on this group of already vulnerable road users.
In regards to road safety, many Australian and international studies and reviews on the effect of street lighting show that adequate lighting decreases crash rates. There are particularly clear benefits for vulnerable road users, such as motorcyclists, bicyclists, elderly road users, children and pedestrians (especially intoxicated pedestrians). Turning the street lights off at 1:00 am would be likely to increase the number of incidents involving these road users. While less crashes occur between midnight and 6:00 am, road users are at increased relative risks at these times. There are fewer people on the roads but statistics show they are more likely to crash. Turning off the street lights at 1:00 am would be expected to impact on this group of already vulnerable road users.
While less crashes occur between midnight and 6:00 am, road users are at increased relative risks at these times. There are fewer people on the roads but statistics show they are more likely to crash. Turning off the street lights at 1:00 am would be expected to impact on this group of already vulnerable road users.
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
8 May 2007
Responded by
Minister for Police and Emergency Services
Response time
48 days
Turning off street lighting at 1am could potentially result in increased crime and deteriorated community safety.
Good lighting in any form, whether it is in the street or on private property, is an essential element in preventing crime, particularly in relation to the perception of crime. All night street lighting makes people feel safer within their community and can contribute to public safety by improving visibility, increasing the risk that offenders will be detected and recognised. Increased street lighting can also increase the general surveillance of an area and enhance public confidence.
The Office of Crime Prevention has advised that recent UK research provides a strong indication that improved street lighting can cause a reduction in crime. The Home Office publication "
The Effects of Improved Street Lighting on Crime : A Systematic Review"
noted:
"The conclusions showed that improved lighting should be included as one element of a situational crime reduction programme. It is an inclusive intervention benefiting the whole of a neighbourhood and leads to an increase in perceived public safety. Improved street lighting is associated with greater use of public space and neighbourhood streets by the community"
(2002 ).
In regards to road safety, many Australian and international studies and reviews on the effect of street lighting show that adequate lighting decreases crash rates. There are particularly clear benefits for vulnerable road users, such as motorcyclists, bicyclists, elderly road users, children and pedestrians (especially intoxicated pedestrians). Turning the street lights off at 1:00 am would be likely to increase the number of incidents involving these road users.
While less crashes occur between midnight and 6:00 am, road users are at increased relative risks at these times. There are fewer people on the roads but statistics show they are more likely to crash. Turning off the street lights at 1:00 am would be expected to impact on this group of already vulnerable road users.
Good lighting in any form, whether it is in the street or on private property, is an essential element in preventing crime, particularly in relation to the perception of crime. All night street lighting makes people feel safer within their community and can contribute to public safety by improving visibility, increasing the risk that offenders will be detected and recognised. Increased street lighting can also increase the general surveillance of an area and enhance public confidence.
The Office of Crime Prevention has advised that recent UK research provides a strong indication that improved street lighting can cause a reduction in crime. The Home Office publication "
The Effects of Improved Street Lighting on Crime : A Systematic Review"
noted:
"The conclusions showed that improved lighting should be included as one element of a situational crime reduction programme. It is an inclusive intervention benefiting the whole of a neighbourhood and leads to an increase in perceived public safety. Improved street lighting is associated with greater use of public space and neighbourhood streets by the community"
(2002 ).
In regards to road safety, many Australian and international studies and reviews on the effect of street lighting show that adequate lighting decreases crash rates. There are particularly clear benefits for vulnerable road users, such as motorcyclists, bicyclists, elderly road users, children and pedestrians (especially intoxicated pedestrians). Turning the street lights off at 1:00 am would be likely to increase the number of incidents involving these road users.
While less crashes occur between midnight and 6:00 am, road users are at increased relative risks at these times. There are fewer people on the roads but statistics show they are more likely to crash. Turning off the street lights at 1:00 am would be expected to impact on this group of already vulnerable road users.
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