Why Street Lights On All Night?



Question:
Often wondered why street lights on all night. Wasted energy etc. Also unnecessary pollution where electrcity is generated by coal or other fossil fuel. Could save some small municipalities some cost? Apparently a German town/city has decided to turn them off. However provision is made for residents to call a telephone code that will switch them on for a timed period in their area. The call can be made from a home phone or from a mobile/cell phone etc. So it would appear that a householder could turn them on; as could someone making a late night delivery, a taxi driver looking for certain street etc.

Answer:
This is great. Was hoping to get ALL views of such an idea. Additional views are most welcome. Please. Here; in addition to two or three street lights within view from this home in a smaller town not too far from a small city in North America we have the following for outside 'night' lighting. 1) One 50 watt 'long life' bulb over front door step. This mainly to ensure that there is a steady light in case someone does come to the door and for visiting neighbours who drop in for a chat and cup of tea. It also would satisfy an insurance requirement that we, as householder provide suitable lighting. The bulb is on for about ten to 12 hours per night (at this time of year). And is replaced every few years. It can be reached by standing on a chair. It can also be operated on/off via a key chain 'fob' similar to that used as car remote door opener. 2) Motion detector twin light fixture over garage door; it operates only after dusk and comes on when a person or vehicle is about half way up driveway. Presently adjusted to stay on for several minutes. Long enough to get groceries out of vehicle. 3) Similar motion detector on other end of house where there is some 8 to 10 feet clearance from fence and next house is some 50 feet away. This sometimes gets operated by a prowling cat or tree movement during heavy winds. 4) Two enclosed bulb fixtures 40 watters IIRC, on patio deck, operated by a switch located next to sliding glass doors to deck at rear of house. Occasionally operated, don't think have replaced a bulb in them for past 5 years. There is very little activity either walking or vehicles after say 1.00 AM. With my existing lighting the street lights could be out I reckon. In fact if my motion detector lights came on in otherwise darkness it would signal neighbours opposite that something was moving around my house.. Oh by the way it is possible to, electrically, connect to the output wire of those motion sensors and via, say a low voltage transformer, operate a buzzer or even use the low voltage as input to my house alarm system.





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