UK could dim A-road lamps to cut carbon

Lights along some stretches of A-roads in the UK may soon be dimmed to cut carbon emissions. A-road lighting levels could be dropped when fewer cars are on the roads […]

Lights along some stretches of A-roads in the UK may soon be dimmed to cut carbon emissions.

A-road lighting levels could be dropped when fewer cars are on the roads at off peak times such as between midnight and 5am.

The plans were revealed by Transport Minister Norman Baker in a written answer to Parliament.

Some lights on 14 stretches of motorway are already lowered or turned off at off peak times and have been since 2009, according to the Highways Agency.

This light-dimming scheme on motorways cuts around 3.3million kWh of electricity or around 1800 tonnes of carbon a year.

The Highways Agency could not confirm which ‘A’ roads might be picked or when but said plans will be considered in the next financial year.

A Highways Agency spokesperson said: “This is not about switching off lights on A-roads. However, we want to continue to reduce the carbon footprint associated with managing England’s major A-roads and one of the ways we are considering doing this is dimming lights when traffic levels are very low.”

They added any changes to light level will meet internationally agreed standards for road safety.

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