AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL

MEDIA RELEASE

16 October 2006

New guidelines shed some light on pedestrian safety

Auckland City’s Public Safety and Community Order Committee has adopted new guidelines for pedestrian lighting recommending ways to light public areas so that people can move around the city more safely.

The pedestrian lighting guidelines promote many areas that need to be considered when planning pedestrian lighting. For example, it suggests that ‘warm’ coloured lights be installed in safe public areas where people are encouraged to gather, and that ‘cold’ coloured lights be used to discourage people from lingering in less safe areas.

“Feedback from the Long-term Council Community Plan consultation highlighted that poor lighting of streets and open spaces was an issue for many people and these guidelines are a huge leap towards improving this situation. The aim is to create safer environments through smart lighting practices,” says Councillor Graeme Mulholland, chair of the Public Safety and Community Order Committee.

The guidelines were developed to inform council officers and contractors about best practice when planning and installing pedestrian lighting around open spaces, sports fields, town centres, community facilities, car parks, heritage building and monuments.

They focus on allowing safe passage for pedestrians by ensuring that:

- people can see and be seen clearly from a distance of 10 to15 metres away

- transitional lighting is used where appropriate so that pedestrians can clearly see from light to dark and vice versa

- appropriate pole mounted lighting is visible by pedestrians at night

- attention is paid to lighting sculptures, fountains and building facades.

Ways to address the level of light pollution in Auckland are also considered. These include switching off lights when not required for safety, security or enhancement of a night-time theme, and directing light downwards wherever possible to illuminate a target, rather than upwards.

“We are hopeful that over time some of these strategies will reduce glare and light pollution so that more Aucklanders will be able to enjoy the night sky,” says Mr Mulholland.

The recommendations detailed in the pedestrian lighting guidelines will be implemented progressively in new capital works developments.

A complete copy of the guidelines can be found at www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/council/documents/lightingguide

ENDS

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