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Table 16.1 Lighting classes for traffic routes
Road name
Road characteristic
Detailed description
Motorway
Limited access
Routes for fast moving, long
distance traffic. Fully grade
separated and restrictions on use
Main carriageway in complex
interchange areas
Main carriageway with
interchanges at < 3 km
Strategic route
Trunk roads and
some main A roads
between primary
destinations
< 40,000
> 40,000
ME1
ME1
ME2
ME1
< 40,000
> 40,000
Emergency lanes
-
ME4a
< 15,000
> 15,000
ME3a
ME2
Routes for fast moving, long
distance traffic with little
frontage access or pedestrian
traffic. Speed limits are usually
in excess of 40 mph and there
are few junctions. Pedestrian
crossings are either segregated
or controlled and parked
vehicles are usually prohibited
Dual carriageway
Major urban
network and
inter-primary links,
short to medium
distance traffic
< 40,000
> 40,000
Lighting
class
Main carriageways with
interchanges > 3 km
Single carriageway
Main distributor
ADT
Routes between strategic routes
and linking urban centres to the
strategic network with limited
frontage access. In urban areas,
speed limits are usually 40 mph
or less, parking is restricted at
peak times and there are positive
measures for pedestrian
safety reasons
Single carriageway
Dual carriageway
< 15,000
> 15,000
< 15,000
> 15,000
< 15,000
> 15,000
Chapter Sixteen: Road lighting
Traffic routes are divided into different classes. The different classes are based on the type of
road, the average daily traffic flow (ADT), the speed of vehicles, the type of vehicles in the traffic
and the frequency of conflict areas and pedestrians. Table 16.1 specifies the different classes and
identifies the recommend lighting criteria. Details of the recommended lighting criteria for dry
roads are given in Table 16.2. These are the lighting criteria usually adopted in the UK.
ME2
ME2
ME3a
ME2
ME3a
ME2
ME3a
ME2
221
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Chapter Sixteen: Road lighting
Table 16.1 Lighting classes for traffic routes
Road name
Road characteristic
Detailed description
Secondary
distributor
Classified road (B
or C road) and
unclassified urban
bus route, carrying
local traffic with
frontage access and
frequent junctions
Rural areas (Environmental zones
1 or 2). These roads link larger
villages and HGV generators to
the strategic and main
distributor network
Link road
< 7,000
7,000–15,000
> 15,000
ME4a
ME3b
ME3a
< 7,000
7,000–15,000
> 15,000
ME3c
ME3b
ME2
Rural areas (Environmental zones
1 or 2). These roads link smaller
villages to the distributor network.
They are of varying width and not
always capable of carrying
two-way traffic
Any
ME5
Urban areas (Environmental
zone 3). These roads are
residential or industrial interconnecting roads with 30 mph
speed limits, random pedestrian
movements and
uncontrolled parking
Any
ME4b
or S2
Any with
high
pedestrian or
cyclist traffic
S1
Urban areas (Environmental
zone 3). These roads have 30 mph
speed limits and very high levels of
pedestrian activity with some
crossing facilities including zebra
crossings. On-street parking is
generally unrestricted except
for safety reasons
Road linking the
main and secondary
distribution network
with frontage
access and
frequent junctions
Lighting
class
ADT
Table 16.2 Lighting recommendations for traffic routes
222
Lighting
class
Minimum
maintained average
road surface
luminance (cd/m2)
Minimum
overall
luminance
uniformity
Minimum
longitudinal
luminance
uniformity for
the carriageway
Maximum
threshold
increment
(%) (note 1)
Minimum
surround
ratio
(note 2)
ME1
2.0
0.40
0.70
10
0.50
ME2
1.5
0.40
0.70
10
0.50
ME3a
1.0
0.40
0.70
15
0.50
ME3b
1.0
0.40
0.60
15
0.50
ME3c
1.0
0.40
0.50
15
0.50
ME4a
0.75
0.40
0.60
15
0.50
ME4b
0.75
0.40
0.50
15
0.50
ME5
0.50
0.35
0.40
15
0.50