Fight brews over tab for highway lights

[reet4587]

I suspect that with the lights off people will drive a little more carefully on the highway and that accidents might actually decrease at night. I have no data to support that theory, but I do have experience going to visit my brother in north Acworth and taking 75 south back home in the dark. There are some wide-ish parts of the highway up there that are totally unlit and you have to rely on the reflectors on the lane borders and good judgment to get by.

It's at least possible that drivers on well-lit highways at night feel free to drop their guard and drive a little faster because they feel more at ease with the lights on. Maybe cutting out the lights would keep night drivers on their best behavior.

And I'm fully aware that I'm prone to overestimating people's good natures, by the way

[atlantagreg30127]

Originally Posted by reet4587

I suspect that with the lights off people will drive a little more carefully on the highway and that accidents might actually decrease at night.

And I'm fully aware that I'm prone to overestimating people's good natures, by the way

It's my experience that when there's no light, and it's raining or with ice on the road, and people are surrounded by others, is when they all tend to start talking on their cell phones while eating a bowl a cereal, smoke, and look for their tax forms under their dash - all while driving 25mph over the speed limit, 3 feet behind the car in front of them.

Call me nutty, but I'm in favor of chips in cars that regulate distance between cars, speed, etc. I think having fewer lights won't do much to deter local drivers from being as wreckless as they already are - though it might slow down out of town drivers who are passing through who are unfamiliar with the roads.

[rcsteiner]

I remember visiting Atlanta back in early 1994, and it seems to be there was some sort of skirmish over street lights back then. If I remember right, I-285 and many other freeways in the metro were essentially unlit at night while we were here, and that made a very bad impression.

I'd never heard of such a thing before. Why does Atlanta seem prone to this more than other areas of the country? Or has this happened in other places and I'm just a sheltered midwesterner?

[stepsinsc]

Originally Posted by atlantagreg30127

Personally I would like to see a law in place on a Federal level that would forbid Cities from cutting certain things in order to balance a budget and/or save money. Such as, NO police officers or fire personnel could be laid off, no safety lighting in key road areas can be shut off, no reduction of staffing for 911 call centers, etc. If cities want to save money, they can cut the paychecks of the City leaders, and cut expense accounts and City employee credit cards, cell phones, and car use. Leave the police, fire, and lighting alone.

You have to be joking. That would be blatantly unconstitutional.

[coolyfett]

Originally Posted by rcsteiner

I remember visiting Atlanta back in early 1994, and it seems to be there was some sort of skirmish over street lights back then. If I remember right, I-285 and many other freeways in the metro were essentially unlit at night while we were here, and that made a very bad impression.

I'd never heard of such a thing before. Why does Atlanta seem prone to this more than other areas of the country? Or has this happened in other places and I'm just a sheltered midwesterner?

Nope I agree 295 is for the Atlanta Metro to use, It should be lit. I have never seen this before, until I moved here. it is very strange.

[Mossberg]

Originally Posted by blondandfun

I don't think the stretch of I-85 up around N. Druid hills has good lighting at all, and there are almost as many lanes there. SO, I don't think it's a requirement.

Correct. There is absolutely NO lighting on 85 from the GA-400 interchange until you get to 285.

[PKCorey]

I guess you guys have never driven on the east side. 20 is pitch black once you leave the ATL city limits. Its sucks especially when its raining how dark the highway is but once you hit the city limits, its bright as hell...