Research(1) suggests there are safety benefits from floodlighting pedestrian crossings. This survey has demonstrated that RCAs policies on floodlighting pedestrian crossings varied widely suggesting that the full safety benefits of floodlighting pedestrian crossings may not be realised.
Most authorities recognised the legal requirement in the Traffic Regulations 1976(2) to keep crossings that are used at night illuminated. Five RCAs had a policy to floodlight all of their pedestrian crossings while some RCAs did not floodlight pedestrian crossings at all.
Opinions were divided amongst RCAs over whether it was better to provide floodlighting at school crossings which may only be used occasionally at night or to provide floodlighting on busy city pedestrian crossings which were already lit by conventional street lighting. Conventional street lighting can illuminate pedestrian crossings but usually at much lower levels than achieved by modern pedestrian crossing floodlighting.
The field surveys showed that only 39% of NZ floodlit pedestrian crossings met the NZ standard(3) which itself is low by international standards. The TR11 guide(4) recommends twice this level (40 lux) and this was achieved at 18% of crossings.
The generally poor performance of floodlighting at pedestrian crossings can be attributed to;
- The significant number of crossings (12%) which had floodlights that had failed. Floodlights are an important safety device for pedestrian crossings and maintenance regimes need to address both the detection and replacement of failed lamps.
- The initial floodlight design failed to recognise the depreciation in light output that the fittings and lamps experience over their operational life. Lamp lumen depreciation, the accumulation of dirt and general deterioration of the fittings can reduce light output by as much as 50%. This is particularly acute with older style mercury vapour fittings where the lamp and reflector are exposed to the elements. Mercury vapour lamps also need to be regularly replaced if light levels are to be maintained. Some RCAs now have a policy to upgrade their old style mercury vapour lamps with new high pressure sodium fittings.
- Alignment of the floodlights, especially those with a narrow beam, can be critical to ensure the light is distributed evenly over the crossing including the footpath at each end. In general Belisha beacons were installed at pedestrian crossings where floodlights were installed. However at 16% of pedestrian crossings at least one of the Belisha beacons was not operating. With better maintenance regimes and the use of longer life Belisha beacon lamps it should be possible to reduce this figure to around one third of the current level.
