NCJ Number
64961
Journal
Police Chief Dated: (JUNE 1974) Pages: 53-55
Date Published
1974
Length
3 pages
Annotation
THE EFFECT OF IMPROVED STREET LIGHTING ON CRIME AND TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS IS EVALUATED, AND THE NEED FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO IMPLEMENT LIGHTING STANDARDS IS EMPHASIZED.
Abstract
THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS REPORTS THAT NIGHT CRIMES OCCUR 12 TIMES MORE FREQUENTLY THAN DAYTIME ACTS OF VIOLENCE. A STUDY CONDUCTED BY THE JOINT COMMITTEE OF THE ILLUMINATING SOCIETY AND THE INSTITUTE FOR TRAFFIC ENGINEERS INDICATES THAT 75 TO 95 PERCENT OF CERTAIN CRIMINAL OFFENSES ARE COMMITTED AT NIGHT. WHEN STREETS ARE WELL LIT, CRIMINALS ARE MORE EASILY SEEN AND IDENTIFIED. KNOWING THIS, POTENTIAL MUGGERS, THIEVES, AND RAPISTS HESITATE TO COMMIT CRIMES IN WELL-LIT AREAS. STREET LIGHTING ALSO ENCOURAGES HONEST CITIZENS TO WALK WITHOUT FEAR, THUS DECREASING THE POSSIBILITY OF SOLITARY VICTIMS. REPRODUCED DAYLIGHT CONSTITUTES GOOD STREET LIGHTING. A STREET LIGHTING SYSTEM MUST FURNISH A HIGH VISIBILITY LEVEL WITH MINIMUM GLARE. GOOD COLOR RENDITION IS IMPORTANT. LIGHT SOURCES INCLUDE FLUORESCENT LAMPS, HIGH-INTENSITY SODIUM VAPOR LIGHTS, MERCURY VAPOR LAMPS, AND METAL HALIDE LAMPS. HIGH-INTENSITY SODIUM VAPOR LIGHTING, HOWEVER, WILL PRODUCE ALMOST TWICE THE ILLUMINATION OF ANY OTHER LIGHTING SOURCE, AND ARE ALSO THE MOST ECONOMIC AND EFFICIENT WITH RESPECT TO ENERGY. POSITIVE RESULTS FROM GOOD STREET LIGHTING EXPERIENCED IN DADE COUNTY (FLORIDA), NEW YORK CITY, AND CHICAGO ARE CITED. (DEP)