How Tall Are Street Lights
Street lights are a necessity for many cities. They ensure safety and visibility at night, which is especially important for pedestrians and drivers. But how tall should they be? This blog post will explore how tall are street lights so that they provide the most benefit.
Street lights can be a necessary part of city life as a safety precaution both on foot or in a car at night. However, there is some debate about what height these fixtures should be built too low, and it’s hard to see around them, but if they’re too high, you might lose out on light coverage from lamp posts closer to the ground. Read on to know more information!
10 Advantage of Using Tall Street Lights
Not only do tall street lights provide light, but they also make roads more visible. This gives an improved appearance to the area of lighting and makes it safer for drivers of vehicles. In addition, the added height of the lamp pole can increase visibility along with improving traffic safety. Here are some advantages we have listed for tall street lights.
1. They Can Be Seen From a Far Distance:
The bulb on top of the street light can be seen from a greater distance with the increased height of the pole. This increases visibility on the roads and makes it easy to spot traffic signals ahead.
2. More Lighting Along Roadways:
A study has shown how fatalities have been reduced by more than 80% after implementing tall street lights. The main cause for this reduction was the increased visibility on roadways. In addition, the tall poles allow for more lighting, which raises awareness of drivers and makes the roads safer.
3. Signals Are Easily Visible:
The lights mounted on top of the lamps are able to increase the visibility of traffic signals. In addition, the added height makes it easier for drivers to spot the signs from a distance.
4. No Light Pollution :
Tall street lights are equipped with proper shields to prevent any lighting, which decreases the sky glow. Skyglow is caused by light being dispersed in all directions rather than towards the target area. This can be dangerous for astronomers and their telescopes, as it will decrease stars’ visibility, which can change their research.
5. Avoid Accidents:
Tall street lights help in avoiding accidents that might be caused by obstacles obstructing a driver’s view. In addition, the added height can increase awareness and alert drivers from any potential hazards ahead. It also reduces road rage as drivers can spot any potential hazards ahead.
6. Improved Overall View of the Road:
A study has shown that tall street lights can increase visibility by more than 50%, which helps improve the overall view of the roads. The added height can also increase security levels in the nighttime and provide safety to all drivers.
7. Improve Traffic Safety:
When drivers can see the road ahead clearly, it helps in improving traffic safety. The added height makes it easy for them to spot objects on the road and take action accordingly. This results in fewer accidents taking place that lead to injuries or fatalities.
8. Better Lighting Reflects in Better Economic Status:
The implementation of tall street lights helps in improving the economic status of a city. It makes it easier for drivers to commute and reduces roadway crimes such as assaults, vehicle thefts, and break-ins. This results in improved safety which results in more people traveling during late hours, leading to an increase in the revenue generated by cities.
9. Extend Service Life:
The lifespan of a street light is extended by more than 20% when the pole is taller. This allows for fewer trips to replace or repair faulty lights, resulting in decreased costs over time.
10.Improve View at Intersections:
Taller poles make it easier for drivers to spot turn lanes and signals from a distance. This reduces instances of accidents at intersections by more than 50%. Traffic congestion is also reduced, which allows for a smoother flow of traffic.
8 Ways to Determine How Tall Are Street Lights
1. Measure the Height:
A simple way to measure the height of a street light is by using a tape measure or yardstick. Carefully extend your device up and write down the number. If you do not have either one on hand, you can estimate and use your hand instead: align your fingers to be even with the top of the pole and your knuckles to be even with the top of the light.
2. Use a Distometer:
A densitometer is an instrument that measures distance by illuminating two points and then using triangulation to determine the distance between them. This is useful because it can automatically calculate the height of the street light without measuring it.
For this method, start by lining up your camera by using a standard-sized object or other reference points that would be close to the size of the streetlight pole you are photographing (e.g., pylon sign).
Take photos from different angles and, if possible, from two different heights. You can then use a program to compare the objects in your pictures and measure the distance between them.
3. Use Google Maps:
If you have access to Google Maps, you can use their ‘Street View’ feature to see how tall a streetlight is. Type in your address or the intersection where you want to measure and navigate your location on Google Street View.
Find a streetlight and move the car forward until it lines up with the streetlight, allowing you to see how tall it is. You can also use this method by going onto a satellite view of Earth and taking a photo from there for comparison.
4. Use Applications:
There are several applications available for smartphones that allow you to measure the height of streetlights. These applications make use of your device’s built-in camera (by using special lenses) and sensors (such as the accelerometer, gyroscope, or magnetometer). In addition, depending on what kind of phone you have, these applications may use GPS or image processing to measure your surrounding environment’s size accurately.
5. Look at Other Street Lights Nearby:
If you cannot find an application for your smartphone, you can still use it by comparison. For example, by looking at nearby street lights, you can get a rough estimate of how high or low the light pole is. You can also see how tall the street light is by using a smaller object as a reference point: for example, use a human being and compare it against another streetlight.
6. Use City Specifications:
Some cities provide their installation standards so that you can estimate the height of their street lights. You would need to know some basic information like the wattage of the bulb and the voltage of the system. You can also check with your local government or roads department to see if such specifications are available.
7. Find Your Local Power Company:
Most power grids are publicly owned in the U.S., so you can use their materials to gather information about how tall streetlights are, mainly when used with the same voltage system. This information isn’t always available online, however. If you cannot find it through your local power company, you can also contact them directly by phone or email.
8. Use Online Forums:
To find out more about street light height, you can always search the Internet for answers. In some cases, someone might have already posted a question about similar issues. In other cases, you can pose your question and see what others have to say in response to it. You can also post pictures of the street light or pole you are measuring and ask for feedback from your peers.
How Tall Do a Light Pole Have to Be?
Some people wonder what the minimum height for a street light pole is. The answer to this question depends on several factors, both related to safety and the aesthetics of the area. The main reason there are regulations about how tall are street lights pole can be is that road users need to see them to avoid hitting them with vehicles or cyclists, especially in areas where visibility may be low, such as intersections or dark sections of the road.
Some regulations require street lights to be a certain height from the ground because of their effect on aesthetically sensitive areas. The distance a light source is from the ground, referred to as its throw can be divided into two curves. The first curve describes the intensity of the light at increasing distances from the ground. It is related to how far away from buildings or objects you need for them to illuminate adequately.
Conclusion
In conclusion, street lights have been a fixture in our lives for over 150 years. We owe their development to the invention of electricity and advancements in technology. They help keep us safe by illuminating dark streets, and they provide an aesthetic quality that makes neighborhoods more lively after sundown.
Street lights are a necessity because we need them every single night – especially when it’s cold outside! If you have any questions about the specifications of street lights or would like to learn more about how tall are street lights, please get in touch with our team. We are always happy to help!