1 (CMF ID: 436,433,192) Elvik, R. and Vaa, T., “Handbook of 

Road Safety Measures.” Oxford, United Kingdom, Elsevier, (2004).

2 (CMF ID: 2376) Ye et al. A Simultaneous Equations Model of Crash Frequency 

By Collision Type for Rural Intersections, 87th Annual Meeting of the Transportation 

Research Board, (2008). FHWA-SA-21-050

Lighting

The number of fatal crashes occurring in daylight is about the same as those 

that occur in darkness. However, the nighttime fatality rate is three times the 

daytime rate because only 25 percent of vehicle miles traveled (VMT) occur at 

night. At nighttime, vehicles traveling at higher speeds may not have the ability 

to stop once a hazard or change in the road ahead becomes visible by the 

headlights. Therefore, lighting can be applied continuously along segments 

and at spot locations such as intersections and pedestrian crossings in order to 

reduce the chances of a crash. 

Adequate lighting (i.e., at or above minimum acceptable standards) is based 

on research recommending horizontal and vertical illuminance levels to 

provide safety benefits to all users of the roadway environment. Adequate 

lighting can also provide benefits in terms of personal security for pedestrians, 

wheelchair and other mobility device users, bicyclists, and transit users as they 

travel along and across roadways. 

Applications

Roadway Segments 

Research indicates that continuous 

lighting on both rural and urban 

highways (including freeways) has 

an established safety benefit for 

motorized vehicles.1

 Agencies can 

provide adequate visibility of the 

roadway and its users through the 

uniform application of lighting that 

provides full coverage along the 

roadway and the strategic placement 

of lighting where it is needed the most. 

Intersections and Pedestrian 

Crossings 

Increased visibility at intersections at 

nighttime is important since various 

modes of travel cross paths at these 

locations. Agencies should consider 

providing lighting to intersections 

based on factors such as a history of 

crashes at nighttime, traffic volume, 

the volume of non-motorized users, 

the presence of crosswalks and raised 

medians, and the presence of transit 

stops and boarding volumes.

Considerations

Most new lighting installations are 

made with breakaway features, 

shielded, or placed far enough 

from the roadway to reduce 

the probability and/or severity 

of fixed-object crashes. Modern 

lighting technology gives precise 

control with minimal excessive 

light affecting the nighttime sky or 

spilling over to adjacent properties. 

Agencies can equitably engage 

with underserved communities to 

determine where and how new and 

improved lighting can most benefit 

the community by considering their 

priorities, including eliminating crash 

disparities, connecting to essential 

neighborhood services, improving 

active transportation routes, and 

promoting personal safety. 

Source: FHWA

28%

for nighttime injury crashes 

on rural and urban 

highways.1

42%

for nighttime injury pedestrian 

crashes at intersections.1

33-38%

for nighttime crashes at rural 

and urban intersections.2,1

Source: FHWA

For more information on this 

and other FHWA Proven Safety 

Countermeasures, please visit 

https://highways.dot.gov/ 

safety/proven-safety-counter

measures and https:// 

highways.dot.gov/safety/

other/visibility/roadwaylighting-resources.

Safety Benefits:

Lighting can reduce 

crashes up to:

OFFICE OF SAFETY

Proven Safety 

Countermeasures