Rural road lighting to be reduced amid energy-saving push

To conserve energy, the Highways Department will begin dimming street lights from May 1 on some rural roads where traffic is light and the risk of accidents is low.

Citing an oil crisis stemming from tensions in the Middle East, director-general Phichit Hoonsiri said the government has mandated all agencies to reduce energy use.

He said the department will dim street lighting in rural areas without affecting public safety. In practice, lights will be switched off or dimmed at night on roads with light traffic and no history of frequent accidents.

Lights may be switched off depending on local conditions, but will remain on in high-risk areas such as intersections, sharp curves, bridges, communities and busy roads. He said the measure will not affect national security or public safety.

Officials from the Rural Highways Department have been assigned to survey and assess each area before dimming the lights.