Lights Out

As I was nearing the entrance of my neighborhood, late on a Friday one evening, a car in front of me started turning into our subdivision and in a split second the car's front wheels were on the curb, nearly running into the neighborhood brick signage. I quickly hit on the breaks to prevent hitting the car in front of me. The driver managed to drive off of the curb and continued on his way. However, this situation could have been avoided had there been proper street lighting. Our neighborhood is pretty new, and ever since my family and I moved in, we have always drove on the dark streets leading up to our community. The street lights alongside Bay Creek Road have been out for a few years, and after many conversations with the city, the power company, and our homeowner's association, it doesn't look like this issue will be resolved any time soon.

Residents as well as drivers prefer routes that are well-lit over the ones that aren't. Does that mean that well-lit areas tend to have less crime? Perhaps. Research is not definitive on whether well-lit areas deter crime, and one can argue from both sides of the spectrum. However, many communities are convinced that properly lit streets and neighborhoods may deter crime and prevent many accidents from occurring. But, crime is not the only thing that should be considered here. Safety, is another important factor. Driving in areas that are well-lit helps prevent drivers from driving into a ditch, onto curbs, and off of cliffs. Various research studies found that street lights "provide[d] reassurance to some people who were fearful in their use of public space, particularly women. Lighting increases a sense of community, and community pride. It brings us outdoors in our neighborhoods, helps us get to know each other. Fear keeps us out of the alley, and attraction to light and what it represents draws us to illuminated streets." I can't even begin to think what the visibility would be like if I had to drive on that road at night when it's raining. The next day, I saw my neighbor, and asked him what happened the night before. He said that the just didn't see the curb because it was so dark. Luckily, he didn't hit anything, however, the bottom of his car got scratched when he drove off of the curb.

So the big question is, who is responsible for fixing the street lights? Is it the city? Or, is it the power company? Someone should take the responsibility and step up, to ensure that our streets are safe for everyone!

Do you know of any streets near you that need street lights added/fixed?