Readers’ concerns over street light switch-off trial on two main…

Two main roads in East Riding will have their lights switched off for a 12-month trial period as part of a wider scheme to reduce how much power is used lighting the road network. However, while some Hull Live readers in our comments sections are not fans of the idea, others see an opportunity to change things for the better. The two sections of road that will have their lights turned off will be the A164 from the Humber Bridge to Willerby, and from Cottingham to Skidby, along with the A1079 from Dunswell Roundabout to Ennerdale Bridge. Lights in residential areas will not be affected, and the project will monitor the behaviour of motorists, cyclists and pedestrians to see what changes. The findings from local authorities like East Riding of Yorkshire Council will feed into a future road projects in Britain. It's believed that more efficient car headlights will make some lampposts redundant, so depending on the outcome of trials like these, we could see fewer lighting points in the future. Karl Rourke, the council’s service manager for street lighting, who is leading the project, said: “The East Riding is at the forefront of this innovative project which could lead to a massive reduction in carbon and energy on UK roads. We are now at a stage where we can turn off the now not-needed streetlights along two routes, knowing that we can do it safely. “To make sure the move is being done as safely as possible, we have created and tested a world-first artificial intelligence system that monitors driver behaviour and safety at key points along these two roads. The system uses thermal imaging cameras to collect data and tells us how safely drivers are behaving under daylight and nighttime or poor visibility conditions. “This AI powered system is now active on both routes, and together with physical monitoring, is collecting data and is continuously checking safety for all road users as
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