Street lighting started a few centuries back. Even before Edison first introduced his commercial lamp, light
was invented and the need for outdoor lighting was identified, passing through different phases and
stages until it reached the current models of street lighting.
Street lighting is probably the most important public services provided by municipalities and other public
authorities. Street lighting is one of the indication of nation’s progress level and development. It improves
safety for drivers, riders, and pedestrians. It is an important public service that gives safety and secure
especially at nighttime. It ensures safety to every citizen around the world. Street Lighting has several
important role to play such as reducing risk of nighttime accidents, assisting in the protection of property,
discouraging crime and vandalism, marking residents feel secure and especially enhancing the appearance
of area after dark. Street lighting can provide safety advantages at locations near intersections and can
improve safety for pedestrians, particularly at crossing points. These lights have the ability to keep the
cityscape lit at night. Well-lit roads assist both drivers and pedestrians to navigate easily, alert them to
approaching vehicles and possible obstacle.
LED Street Lighting is the future of street lighting. There are many reasons why LED Street Lights are
consider more when it comes to street and area lighting. This is because not only LED lights are
environmentally friendly, but they also have a higher output compared to conventional lights. These lights
are also free from hazardous chemicals such as mercury and lead which give out toxins. LED lights are
progressing rapidly and can results significant energy saving. The use of these LED enable enhanced
performance at lower cost for different lighting and traffic conditions. These advantages of LED
streetlights range from cost savings, higher quality of light and overall better efficiency. It is quickly
becoming the light for all uses: residential, commercial, and industrial.
The purpose of standard street lighting design is to demonstrate guidelines and practices to be followed
by engineers in designing street lighting systems. Benefits of this design includes providing engineers with
direction resulting in increased productivity by streamlining the design process, and increased efficiency
by establishing a centralized source of up-to-date reference for current standard and procedures. To
overall quality in street lighting designs will be enhanced by requiring engineers to adhere to national’s
current design and construction policies.