---
title: "Short note: importance of road lighting"
subject: "Transportation Engineering II"
chapter: 1
key: "semester_7/transportation_engineering_ii:short-note-road-lighting-importance"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/transportation_engineering_ii/short-note-road-lighting-importance
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Short note: importance of road lighting

Transportation Engineering II · Chapter 1: Traffic Engineering

- Asked in: 2070 Chaitra (old course), 4 marks
- Video: [The Science of Street Lighting Design](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMYxFTP-HEY) — Nelca Roco, Lighting Design
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/transportation_engineering_ii/short-note-road-lighting-importance
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/transportation_engineering_ii/chapter-1

## Question

Write a short note on importance of road lighting.

## Short answer

Road lighting improves night visibility and reduces crashes and their severity at intersections, curves, and pedestrian crossings. It enhances personal security, reduces crime, increases road capacity and speed after dark, supports commercial activity, and provides guidance on alignment and edges.

## Answer

- It **improves night visibility** so that drivers see the road, obstacles, pedestrians and other vehicles in time to stop.
- It **reduces crashes** and the severity of crashes at intersections, curves, bridges, and pedestrian crossings.
- It **improves personal security** and reduces crime in urban areas.
- It **increases the capacity and speed** of the road after dark by raising the confidence of the driver.
- It **helps traffic flow and the economic life** of commercial areas (night shopping, tourism).
- It **gives guidance** to the driver on road alignment, junctions and the edge of the pavement, and it enhances the look of the city.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. What is the first main benefit of road lighting?
   A. Lower pavement temperature
   B. Better night visibility to see obstacles in time to stop
   C. Longer vehicle life
   D. Less rainfall
   Answer: B. Lighting lets drivers see the road, obstacles and pedestrians in time. (Key point: Night visibility)

2. Where does lighting reduce crash severity in particular?
   A. Straight empty roads in daylight
   B. Intersections, curves, bridges and pedestrian crossings
   C. Only parking lots
   D. Only on hill roads
   Answer: B. Lighting helps most at conflict points such as intersections, curves, bridges and crossings. (Key point: Crash reduction)

3. How does lighting affect capacity and speed after dark?
   A. Reduces them
   B. Raises them by increasing driver confidence
   C. No effect
   D. Only raises them for trucks
   Answer: B. Better confidence keeps capacity and speed closer to daytime values. (Key point: Capacity after dark)

## Related in Transportation Engineering II

- [Tunnel lighting and ventilation: importance and methods](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftransportation_engineering_ii%3Atunnel-lighting-ventilation-importance-methods) — Transportation Engineering II, chapter 5

## Related in other subjects

- [Street lighting a 2 km road with sodium lamps](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Findustrial_power_distribution_and_illumination%3Astreet-lighting-sodium-2km) — Industrial Power Distribution and Illumination, chapter 8