On Jan 7, 7:56�am, Jim Redelfs wrote:
In article
,

�terry wrote:
Often wondered why street lights on all night.

The value of overnight street lighting was established CENTURIES ago. �
It provides improved public safety, particularly crime suppression.

Wasted energy etc.

One man's "waste" is another man's "value".

unnecessary pollution where electrcity is generated
by coal or other fossil fuel.

True "pollution" by such industries has all but been eliminated,
compared to a mere, few decades ago. �Most so-called environmentally
conscious or proactive folks are not old enough to remember how things
were. �I remember black clouds of coal smoke. �"Chimney scrubbers" were
developed and deployed, to name just ONE of the many improvements that
have made low sulphur coal combustion almost clean.

...and carbon dioxide, a gas produced by ALL living creatures, is NOT a
pollutant despite baseless, contrary claims.

Could save some small municipalities some cost?

On the surface or "up front", eliminating overnight, public lighting
might appear to save some money. �In reality, the CO$T to a community
from such "savings" would quickly become apparent in the form of
diminished public safety (increased accidents, etc) and increased crime.

If you think there are too many tire slashings and window smashings NOW,
just turn off the street lights for a while and see how much such crime
increases.

Apparently a German town/city has decided to turn them off.

Great. �Let them test such folly - then get back to the rest of us.

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.

That's almost a cliche of the Environmentalist Wacko movement: �Spend
millions of dollars to save a few dollars. �Penny-wise and pound-foolish.

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.

The irony of such technology is that it ignores the very basis of what
has driven mankind since the wheel: �Cost vs value.

You can bet that at least ONE householder in each area would turn the
lights back on - EACH NIGHT - just for the security they offer.

It is simply appalling to me that so many (too many) folks believe that
such a system would be a good thing. �They are incapable of seeing
beyond the simple function of turning off a street light.

I am honestly concerned for the future should such folly take an even
greater hold of our society. �There are so many BETTER things to concern
us and on which we should spend our money.
--
� � � � � �
JR

lights deter drug sales, vandalism, grafitti artists and help
percieved safety.

take a empty car parking lot, your car may not have started after
work, so you got a ride with a friend and left it till morning.

would you want the lights off, returning in the morning to a empty
lot, car stolen? or prefer you car on blocks totally stripped?

newer parking lot and security lights are far more efficent and aim
the light down to minimize shy waste