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More stupid "tech" to produce light pollution



 
 
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  #11  
Old July 8th 17, 12:54 AM posted to sci.astro.amateur
Mike Collins[_4_]
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Posts: 2,824
Default More stupid "tech" to produce light pollution

Chris L Peterson wrote:
On Thu, 6 Jul 2017 22:59:53 -0700 (PDT), "Chris.B"
wrote:

I could never understand the need for headlights on vehicles _AND_street lighting.


I think they often serve different purposes. In urban areas,
headlights are more about making cars visible to other drivers (thus
daytime running lights, which are shown to reduce accidents). Of
course, when used for that purpose headlights can be substantially
dipped.

Street lighting can be for cars, but is really only necessary at
intersections and selected spots, not regularly spaced. Street
lighting for pedestrians can be low and dim, possibly proximity
activated in at least some situations.

And certainly, all lighting should be designed to put the light where
it's needed, and to hide the light source itself.



You've been to the UK. You must have driven on country roads at night. When
the road is relatively empty driving without streetlamps is easy. When it's
busy the glare from the dipped headlights of oncoming traffic makes driving
difficult.

I drove home from Norwich this evening after a visit to a theatre. The
first few miles though the well lit city roads (with good shielded LED
lights) were easy. After the A47 roundabout at the edge of the city
streetlights stop and the dark and slightly winding roads were difficult
because of glare. It's just not possible to see the roads easily at bends
when headlamps are shining in your eyes. I'm talking about dipped headlight
here not full beam. It's made even worse by the one in forty or so drivers
who think it's cool to have their front foglights on. This has a mandatory
60 pounds fine and three point on the licence if caught but prosecution is
rare.

  #12  
Old July 8th 17, 03:35 AM posted to sci.astro.amateur
Chris L Peterson
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Posts: 10,007
Default More stupid "tech" to produce light pollution

On Fri, 7 Jul 2017 23:54:26 -0000 (UTC), Mike Collins
wrote:

Chris L Peterson wrote:
On Thu, 6 Jul 2017 22:59:53 -0700 (PDT), "Chris.B"
wrote:

I could never understand the need for headlights on vehicles _AND_street lighting.


I think they often serve different purposes. In urban areas,
headlights are more about making cars visible to other drivers (thus
daytime running lights, which are shown to reduce accidents). Of
course, when used for that purpose headlights can be substantially
dipped.

Street lighting can be for cars, but is really only necessary at
intersections and selected spots, not regularly spaced. Street
lighting for pedestrians can be low and dim, possibly proximity
activated in at least some situations.

And certainly, all lighting should be designed to put the light where
it's needed, and to hide the light source itself.



You've been to the UK. You must have driven on country roads at night. When
the road is relatively empty driving without streetlamps is easy. When it's
busy the glare from the dipped headlights of oncoming traffic makes driving
difficult.


I'd include that in my comment "selected spots". Of course, what it
really comes down to is applying some good engineering. All too often
I think that's skipped in favor of generic lighting formulas, which
are seldom optimal for the situation.
 




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