Web-Based Training for FHWA Roadway Lighting Workshop

Module 1: Roadway Lighting Design Overview 
Web-Based Training for FHWA Roadway Lighting 

Workshop 

Participant Workbook 

Module 1: Roadway Lighting Design Overview 

(Other modules include: 

Module 2: Lighting Hardware and Light Source Considerations for Roadway Lighting 

Module 3: Street and Roadway Lighting Design 

Module 4: Other Roadway Lighting Topics)

May 2018 
NOTICE 

This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of 

Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The United States Government 

assumes no liability for its contents or the use thereof. This Report does not constitute a 

standard, specification, or regulation. 

The contents of this Report reflect the views of the contractor, who is responsible for the 

accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official 

policy of the U.S. Department of Transportation. 

The United States Government does not endorse products or manufacturers named 

herein. Trade or manufacturers’ names appear herein solely because they are considered 

essential to the object of this report. 

QUALITY ASSURANCE STATEMENT 

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides high-quality information to serve 

Government, industry, and the public in a manner that promotes public understanding. 

Standards and policies are used to ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and 

integrity of its information. FHWA periodically reviews quality issues and adjusts its 

programs and processes to ensure continuous quality improvement. 
TECHNICAL REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE 

1. Report No. 

FHWA-SA-18-033 

2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient's Catalog No. 

4. Title and Subtitle 

Web-Based Training for FHWA Roadway Lighting Workshop 

Module 1: Roadway Lighting Design Overview

5. Report Date 

May 2018 

6. Performing Organization Code 

7. Author(s) 

Daniel C. Frering, John D. Bullough, Kevin Chiang, Leverson Boodlal 

8. Performing Organization Report No. 

9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS) 

KLS 

Engineering, 

LLC (Prime), 

45155 Research 

Pl, Suite 200, 

Ashburn, VA 

20147 

Lighting Research Center, 

Rensselaer Polytechnic 

Institute (Subcontractor), 21 

Union Street, Troy, NY 12180 

11. Contract or Grant No. 

DTFH6116D00017, TOPR No. 16-16 

12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 

Federal Highway Administration 

Office of Safety 

1200 New Jersey Ave. SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

13. Type of Report and Period Covered 

Report (2016-2018) 

14. Sponsoring Agency Code 

FHWA 

15. Supplementary Notes 

Joseph Cheung from FHWA served as the Project Manager. Cathy Satterfield, George Merritt, Michelle Arnold and 

Wilmari Valentin Medina from FHWA provided helpful technical comments. 

16. Abstract 

This document serves as a participant workbook for Web-Based Training for FHWA Roadway Lighting Workshop, 

Module 1: Roadway Lighting Design Overview. Module 1 covers lighting terminology, the purposes of roadway 

lighting, warrants for roadway lighting, and lighting guideline documents. Other modules include Module 2: 

Lighting Hardware and Light Source Considerations for Roadway Lighting, Module 3: Street and Roadway Lighting 

Design, and Module 4: Other Roadway Lighting Topics. 

17. Key Words 18. Distribution Statement 

No restrictions Roadway lighting, safety, visibility, crash avoidance

19. Security Classif. (of this report) 20. Security Classif. (of this page) 21. No. of Pages 22. Price 

Unclassified Unclassified 73 

Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized
Introduction 

Training Course Overview 

Roadway lighting is presently undergoing a major transition in terms of lighting 

technologies and recommended practices, after decades of incremental progress. In 

particular, light-emitting diode (LED) sources offer the potential for decreased lighting 

energy use, reduced maintenance requirements, improved visibility, and easier control 

of intensity. Along with these potential advantages, questions have arisen about the 

possibility of increased glare, light pollution, and impacts on human circadian rhythms. 

Many transportation agencies lack "in-house" expertise about lighting due to retirement 

or reassignment of responsibilities within the agency, and to address this knowledge 

gap, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has updated its Roadway Lighting 

Handbook, and offers this web-based training course to help improve understanding 

about the objectives and benefits of roadway lighting, basic terminology about lighting, 

practices for determining whether and how lighting should be installed, lighting and 

control technologies, measurement issues, and additional issues. 

Target Audience 

The primary intended audience for this training includes traffic safety engineers from 

transportation agencies whose responsibilities include making design decisions about 

roadways and roadway safety systems, those who work with the public and 

communicate about agency decisions regarding roadway lighting, and lighting 

contractors for the design and specification of roadway lighting systems. The initial 

module may also be of interest to the general public wishing to learn more about 

roadway lighting. 

Course Outcome 

Individuals completing this course will understand: 

 The basics of roadway lighting, its potential benefits, and how decisions are 

made regarding its installation; 

 The technology and hardware used in roadway lighting and adaptive control 

systems; 

 The criteria and calculations underlying roadway lighting design and 

measurement; and 

 Additional topics such as lighting for special situations like crosswalks and 

roundabouts, visual perception issues, light pollution, and possible impacts on 

circadian rhythms in people. 
Course Contents 

The course is organized into four modules as follows: 

Module 1: Roadway Lighting Design Overview 

Module 2: Lighting Hardware Design and Light Source Considerations 

for Roadway Lighting 

Module 3: Street and Roadway Lighting Design 

Module 4: Other Topics (Lighting Equipment Location, Special 

Locations, Ambient Environments, Spectral Effects) 

Navigating the Online Course Modules 

Each course module is structured to allow you to review content at your own pace. 

There is no audio feature in the course modules. 

If you wish to leave a course module at any time, simply note the slide that you last 

viewed, and you will be able to use the slide bar at the bottom of the screen to quickly 

navigate to that slide when you return to complete the course. Slide numbers can be 

found at the lower left of each slide. 

To navigate through the course, use the “back” and “next” arrow buttons on the bottom 

right side of each page. These buttons will allow you to advance to the next page, or go 

the previous page. 

If you see a chart or graph of any of the pages, you will be able to place your mouse 

over the image of the chart to enlarge it. 

There are “knowledge check” quizzes throughout the course. You will need to pass 

each quiz before you can advance to the next page. You are allowed as many attempts 

as needed to complete each knowledge check. However, if you do not answer correctly 

on the first attempt, it is a good idea to go back and review the previous section of the 

course module. 

At the end of each course module there are also a series of quiz questions. You have 

only one try to answer these quiz questions correctly, but you will be able to review the 

correct answers to each question. 

At the end of each course module, there is a list of links to all of the publications 

mentioned in the module, if you wish to further explore any of the content. 
List of Acronyms and Abbreviations

AASHTO American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials 

ADT Average daily traffic 

ANSI American National Standards Institute 

cd/m2 Candela per square meter 

CIE Commission Internationale de l'Éclairage 

CFL Continuous freeway lighting 

CIL Complete interchange lighting 

DG Design guide 

FHWA Federal Highway Administration 

IDA International Dark-Sky Association 

IES Illuminating Engineering Society 

LED Light emitting diode 

MLO Model Lighting Ordinance 

nm Nanometers (10-9 meter) 

PIL Partial interchange lighting 

RP Recommended practice 

TAC Transportation Association of Canada 

TM Technical memorandum 

Vλ Photopic luminous efficiency function 
Module 1: Roadway Lighting Design Overview 

Roadway Lighting Design Overview 

Module 1, Slide 1 

This section of the Participant Workbook will help you review the content for Module 1, 

entitled "Roadway Lighting Design Overview." The top of each workbook page will 

indicate the module slide title and slide number in order to help you locate content within 

the workbook that matches content in the online modules. 
Navigating This Course 

Module 1, Slide 2 

This slide in the online module describes how to navigate through the course module. It 

is similar to the instructions in this workbook. 
Course Objectives 

Module 1, Slide 3 

Following completion of this module, the user will be able to accomplish the following 

objectives: 

 Recognize the benefits of roadway lighting 

 Identify lighting metrics, guidelines, and standards 

 Relate lighting factors with visual performance 

 Apply warrants for lighting 
What are the purposes of roadway lighting? 

Module 1, Slide 4 

Typical high-mast lighting along a highway at night.

Have you ever asked yourself the question, why do people install lighting along streets 

and roadways? If cars have headlamps to light the roads, why do we need roadway 

lighting at all? 

Lighting is installed along streets and roadways for several reasons. Some reasons are 

easily quantifiable and supported by many years of research. Others are less easy to 

quantify. Some common reasons that roadway lighting is installed include: 

 Visibility - lighting supports our ability to see at night. 

 Nighttime crash reduction - if visibility is improved, it should result in fewer 

crashes on the roadway. 

 Driver comfort - roadway lighting improves visual comfort for drivers. 

 Perception of safety - roadway lighting make us feel safer at night. 

 Crime reduction - many people feel that roadway lighting will reduce the 

incidence of crime in an area.
Lighting Terminology 

Module 1, Slide 5

Before we begin a more in-depth discussion of the reasons for roadway lighting, we first 

need to review some lighting terms and concepts. Like any profession, lighting has a 

unique vocabulary. Understanding these terms will be necessary as you continue to 

learn more about roadway lighting design. The terms we will review in more detail 

include: 

 Light 

 Illuminance 

 Luminance 

 Contrast 

 Visual Performance 

 Uniformity 

 Glare 
Light Defined 

Module 1, Slide 6 

Light is optical radiation entering the eye that produces a visual sensation. 

Light is one type of energy on the electromagnetic spectrum. It is a small region of 

energy sandwiched between ultraviolet radiation on the low end, and infrared radiation 

on the upper end. Light extends from 380 nanometers (nm) to 780 nanometers. 
Light and Vision 

Module 1, Slide 7 

A cross section of the human eye. Light enters through the lens and travels to the 

retina.

Light is similar to other types of energy, but what makes it unique is that it initiates the 

process of “seeing.” When we look at an object, what we are seeing is light reflected 

back from the object. This reflected light travels through our eye’s lens to the retina at 

the back of the eye where it is converted to neural signals by components called 

photoreceptors. These photoreceptors transmit visual signals to the brain through the 

optic nerve. 

The brain then interprets these signals to form an image, which is what we see. This 

entire process happens almost instantaneously, but can only happen when there is 

light. 

Following are definitions for some of the parts of the eye: 

Cornea: The cornea is the transparent part of the eye that covers the front portion of the 

eye. It covers the pupil, iris, and anterior chamber. The cornea's main function is to 

refract, or bend, light. 

Pupil: The opening in the center of the iris through which light enters. 

Lens: The lens is a transparent structure in the eye that, along with the cornea, helps to 

refract light to be focused on the retina. 
Light and Vision 

Module 1, Slide 7 (continued) 

Iris: The iris is a thin, circular structure in the eye, responsible for controlling the 

diameter and size of the pupil and thus the amount of light reaching the retina. Eye color 

is defined by that of the iris. 

Retina: The retina is the nerve layer that lines the back of the eye, senses light, and 

creates impulses that travel through the optic nerve to the brain. 

Fovea: The fovea is a depression-like area located at the center most part of the retina 

of the eye. Only cone photoreceptors are located in the fovea. The fovea is the location 

in which the most acute vision takes place. 

Optic nerve: The optic nerve carries the impulses formed by the retina. These impulses 

are dispatched through the optic nerve to the brain, which interprets them as images.
Lumen 

Module 1, Slide 8 

When we measure light, a weighting function is applied to the wavelengths of light 

which represents how our eye sees fine detail at daytime light levels. This curve is often 

referred to with the capital letter “V” followed by the Greek letter lambda ().

When we discuss light, we typically think of the lumen, which is the standard measure of 

light. The lumen does not consider all wavelengths of light equally. It applies a weighting 

function as shown in the graph above. This weighting function gives more prominence 

to the wavelengths of light in the middle of the spectrum, around 550 nm and nearly 

“leaves out” the wavelengths of light at the upper and lower regions of the spectrum (to 

the left and right on the graph). 
Illuminance 

Module 1, Slide 9

This diagram illustrates a “pool” of light directly under a pole-mounted, outdoor light 

fixture. Each contour line represents a different illuminance level (in footcandles) from 

highest at the center of the diagram to lowest at the edges. 

Illuminance is the amount of light (lumens) falling on a surface, per a particular unit area 

such as square foot or square meter. 

In roadway lighting, we typically will measure horizontal illuminance on the pavement. In 

places such as crosswalks where there are likely to be pedestrians, we also need to 

consider vertical illuminance, such as the amount of light falling on people. 

In the US we most often measure illuminance in lumens per square foot. This measure 

is called footcandles. 

In other parts of the world they measure illuminance in lumens per square meter. This 

measure is called lux. 

For ease of conversion, we typically apply a 10 to 1 rule to convert lux to footcandles. 

10 lux is equal to 1 footcandle. 
Luminance 

Module 1, Slide 10

In the illustration above, the driver in the car sees the luminance of the roadway surface. 

Luminance is easiest to think of as the amount of light reflected or emitted by a surface 

in a particular direction. 

Luminance takes into account the properties of the surface, such as its reflectivity, and 

the position of the observer. When we see an object, we see luminance. In the 

illustration at the top, the driver in the car sees the luminance of the roadway surface. 

The unit of measure for luminance is candelas (a measure of luminous intensity) per 

square meter (a unit area of a surface, cd/m2). 

Different sections of roadways will have different luminance measurements depending 

on the amount of light falling on them, the properties of the roadway surface, and the 

angle at which they are being viewed. 
Knowledge Check 

Module 1, Slide 11 

Select the correct answer: 

24 footcandles is a higher light level (illuminance) than 180 lux. 

 a) True 

 b) False 

The correct answer is on the next page. 
Knowledge Check Answer 

Module 1, Slide 12 

The correct answer is a) True. Using the rule of thumb conversion factor of 10 lux is 

equal to 1 footcandle, 180 lux would be equal to about 18 footcandles, which is less 

than 24. (See Module 1, Slide 9.) 
Contrast 

Module 1, Slide 13

The panel to the left shows newly painted crosswalk pavement markings. Notice the 

difference in contrast between the markings and the new, dark pavement surface. The 

panel to the right shows aged crosswalk markings. Notice the reduction in contrast 

between the markings and the lighter pavement surface.

Contrast is a measure of the luminance difference between a target and its background. 

Contrast is one of the factors that affects the visibility of an object or image. Generally, 

the larger the difference in luminance between the object and its background, the more 

visible an object will appear. For example, in the image above to the left, it is very easy 

to see the white pavement markings against the black roadway surface because the 

difference in luminance between the markings and roadway is very large. 

However, as the pavement markings age, and the roadway surface lightens over time, 

the contrast (luminance difference) between the markings and the roadway surface 

diminishes, making the markings less visible, as shown in the image above to the right. 
Contrast 

Module 1, Slide 14

Contrast can be described as being “negative” or “positive.” Negative contrast is when 

the target is darker (has a significantly lower luminance) than its background. Positive 

contrast is when the target is brighter (has a significantly higher luminance) than its 

background. These concepts are illustrated above. Either high negative or high positive 

contrast will make an object more visible. 
Uniformity 

Module 1, Slide 15

The illuminance uniformity on the pavement in the left image is 3:1. The illuminance 

uniformity in the right image is 10:1. You can see how people and objects would be 

more visible throughout the left parking lot, while there are darker areas in the right 

parking lot where people and objects may be more difficult to see.

The term uniformity when applied to lighting, has to do with the “evenness” or 

consistency of the lighting distribution in a particular area, such as on roadway surface. 

Uniformity can be applied to luminance or illuminance measurements. Lighting 

guidelines will typically specify a particular illuminance or luminance that should be 

present on a roadway, and a recommended uniformity of the lighting. 

Uniformity is specified in terms of a ratio, such as “ten to one”, typically written as 10:1. 

This means that the light levels on no area on the roadway should be 10 times higher or 

lower than any other area. 

Uniformity is important because generally, the more uniform the lighting, the easier it is 

for someone to see objects or people on all areas of the roadway. 
Glare 

Module 1, Slide 16

The unshielded light fixtures above are an example of discomfort glare. 

The vehicle headlamps in this photograph are causing disability glare, significantly 

reducing visibility for any oncoming drivers. 

The Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), the professional body for lighting in North 

America, defines glare as the sensation produced by luminances within the visual field 

that are sufficiently greater than the luminance to which the eyes are adapted, which 

causes annoyance, discomfort, or loss in visual performance and visibility. 

In terms of roadway lighting, as we are driving at night, our eyes become adapted to the 

relatively dark area on and around the roadway. When we see a bright light source, 

from fixed roadway lighting or oncoming headlamps for example, this can be 

uncomfortable to look at, or can cause us not to be able to see anything beyond the 

bright source. 

Discomfort glare is uncomfortable to look at and can reduce visibility, especially at a 

distance. 

Disability glare significantly reduces visual performance by reducing contrast. 

Later in this course we will discuss some metrics or measures for glare, and some 

design techniques to help prevent glare from roadway lighting.
Visual Performance 

Module 1, Slide 17

The graphs above show visual performance for viewing targets of different sizes. If a 

target is very small, as in the graph at the top left, any increase in contrast or luminance 

will make a big difference in how easy it is to see. However if a target is large, as in the 

graph at the bottom right, it is easier to see regardless of the amount of light or contrast.

Visual performance describes how quickly and accurately we can process a visual 

image or visual information. Visual performance depends on several factors, including: 

 Light level - the luminance of the area or object we are viewing. 

 Contrast - the difference in luminance between the object and its background. 

 Size - how large or small the object is. 

 Age - the age of the observer. 

Visual performance can be improved or made worse by varying any of these factors. 

Some we have no control over, such as the age of the observer (in our case, drivers). 

The things we can affect are either increasing the light level, or improving the contrast of 

what a driver needs to see. These functions follow what we call a “plateau” effect, as 

seen in the graphs above. Once we achieve a sufficient light level and good contrast, for 

example, adding more light will not improve visual performance any further. However, 

when lighting conditions are marginal, adding light or improving contrast will have a 

large effect on improving visibility. 
Knowledge Check 

Module 1, Slide 18 

Select the correct answer: 

What issue can be caused by glare on the roadway at night? 

 a) Visual discomfort 

 b) Reduction or loss in visual performance 

 c) Reduction or loss in visibility 

 d) All of the above 

The correct answer is on the next page. 
Knowledge Check Answer 

Module 1, Slide 19 

The correct answer is d) All of the above. Glare can cause visual discomfort as well as 

loss or reduction in visibility or visual performance. (See Module 1, Slide 16.) 
Purposes of Roadway Lighting 

Module 1, Slide 20

The following pages review some of the purposes of roadway lighting in more detail. 
Improved Visibility and Visual Performance 

Module 1, Slide 21

In the panel to the left, the roadway is lighted only by car headlights. In the panel on the 

right, the roadway is lighted by car headlights and fixed roadway lighting. 

The IES states that the purpose of roadway lighting is to “provide quick, accurate, and 

comfortable visibility at night.” We know from extensive research into visual 

performance that lighting is one of the key factors that describes how visible something 

will be. 

Roadway lighting improves visibility by providing the driver with increased visual 

information as compared to a road lighted only by a car’s headlamps. This increase in 

visibility has a direct effect on a driver’s ability to see and react to potential hazards in 

the roadway. 

In the illustrations above, the left picture shows a driver’s view of an oncoming car with

only headlamps illuminating the roadway. The right picture shows this same oncoming 

car on a roadway lighted by both car headlamps and roadway lighting. In the right 

picture the driver has much more visual information including an idea of the speed of 

the oncoming car, its position on the roadway, its size, and its direction of travel. 
Nighttime Crash Reduction 

Module 1, Slide 22

If roadway lighting improves visibility for drivers and pedestrians, then it should reduce 

nighttime crashes. According to the World Health Organization, 1.24 million road traffic 

deaths occur every year, worldwide. The International Commission on Lighting (CIE) 

analyzed 62 lighting and accident studies from 15 countries and concluded that, 

“Statistically significant results show reductions in nighttime accidents of between 13 

and 75 percent.” 

One of these studies is summarized in the chart above. This shows the effect of 

roadway lighting on crash reduction for different weather conditions, road surface 

conditions, road users, and crash types. In almost all cases, roadway lighting had a 

significant effect on reducing crashes. 

More recent studies continue to show the beneficial effects of roadway lighting on 

nighttime crash reduction.
Nighttime Crash Reduction (Continued) 

Module 1, Slide 23

Examples of crash modification factors (CMFs) and crash reduction factors (CRFs) 

associated with roadway lighting, from the CMF Clearinghouse. 

The FHWA established the Crash Modification Factor (CMF) Clearinghouse 

(www.cmfclearinghouse.org) to gather evidence for the safety impacts of various 

treatments, including roadway lighting. The CMF is an estimate of the proportion of 

crashes expected after the safety treatment is installed, compared to before. The Crash 

Reduction Factor (CRF) is the percent reduction in crashes expected with a safety 

treatment. The letters indicating crash severity range from crashes involving fatalities 

(K), severe injuries (A), moderate injuries (B), minor injuries (C), to crashes with 

property damage only (O). 
Improved Visual Comfort for Drivers 

Module 1, Slide 24

The roadway lighting along this uniformly lighted street makes it very comfortable for 

drivers who are not affected by glare from oncoming headlights or any of the other 

lighting along the street.

The main factor affecting driver comfort on roadways at night is glare from the 

headlamps of oncoming vehicles and from roadway lighting fixtures. If a roadway is 

properly lighted at night, glare from headlamps and other light sources along the 

roadway will be reduced because the roadway lighting will raise the overall ambient light 

level on the roadway. This will reduce the difference in luminance between any given 

light sources, such as oncoming car headlamps, and the surrounding environment. This 

reduces glare and improves visual comfort for drivers. 
Improved Sense of Safety and Security 

Module 1, Slide 25

People were asked to agree or disagree that the lighting in an area provided good 

security. The higher the light level (shown on the bottom axis) the more strongly 

observers agreed with this statement, as shown on the axis to the left side of the graph.

Studies show that nighttime lighting improves peoples’ sense of safety and personal 

security. In other words, if an area is well-lighted at night, people will feel more safe. 

The graph above is taken from a study conducted by Dr. Peter Boyce. Dr. Boyce took 

groups of people to different areas of Albany, NY and New York City at night. Some of 

these areas were lighted to very low levels, others at much higher levels. He found that 

there was a direct correlation between light level and people’s perceptions of safety and 

security. The more light, the safer people felt. 

This correlation held up to about 30 lux, and then people’s safety perception started to 

level off. This indicated that adding more light did make people feel a little bit safer, but 

once you reached the level of about 30 lux, you had enough light to make most people 

feel safe. 
Improved Sense of Safety and Security (continued) 

Module 1, Slide 26

A street lighted with high pressure sodium (HPS) light sources (left). A street lighted 

with a “whiter” light source was rated as safer by drivers and pedestrians (right).

Other research, conducted by Dr. Mark Rea and his colleagues, found that there was a 

direct correlation between the perceived brightness of an outdoor area at night, and 

people’s perception of safety and security. 

This was similar to what was found by Dr. Boyce in the study described on the previous 

slide; however, rather than using light level, Dr. Rea’s study used perceived brightness. 

The brighter an area looked to people at night, the safer they indicated they felt in that 

area. 

This is an important distinction because we can make an area look brighter by using 

light sources, like light emitting diodes (LEDs) that produce a greater perception of 

brightness without having to raise light levels and use additional energy. 
Crime Reduction 

Module 1, Slide 27

Roadway lighting may not reduce the incidence of crime at night. 

It would seem reasonable that if a street, roadway, or other area were well-lighted at 

night, this would have a beneficial effect on reducing crime in that area. We know that 

people feel more safe in a well-lighted area. One reason for this is that they can see 

clearly around them, and can see facial details of people that may be approaching from 

a distance.

However, studies looking at the correlation of roadway lighting and crime reduction have 

produced conflicting results. In some areas where lighting was added, crime did indeed 

decrease. However, in other areas where lighting was added, crime increased or stayed 

the same. In one study, for example, theft from inside cars increased because thieves 

could more clearly see what was inside the car and were then more likely to try to break 

in and steal it. 

So, we can say that the “jury is still out” on whether or not nighttime lighting reduces 

crime, until more definitive research results are available.
Knowledge Check 

Module 1, Slide 28 

Select the correct answer: 

According to the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), the primary purpose of roadway 

lighting is to: 

 a) Prevent crashes at intersections 

 b) Provide quick, accurate and comfortable visibility at night 

 c) Reduce nighttime incidences of crime 

 d) Reduce the number of rear end collisions on highways 

The correct answer is on the next page. 
Knowledge Check Answer 

Module 1, Slide 29 

The correct answer is b) Provide quick, accurate and comfortable visibility at night. The 

IES states that the purpose of roadway lighting is to "provide quick, accurate, and 

comfortable visibility at night." We know from extensive research into visual 

performance that lighting is one of the key factors that describes how visible something 

will be (See Module 1, Slide 21.) 
Determining if Lighting is Needed in an Area 

Module 1, Slide 30

Lighting along a highway interchange at night. Traffic speed is a factor in considering 

the need for roadway lighting. 

The first step in a roadway lighting design process is to determine if lighting is needed in 

an area. In order to do this, you need to consider the following factors: 

Traffic 

What is the traffic density in the location? 

What is the posted speed limit? 

What is the crash history in the location? 

Pedestrians

How heavy is the pedestrian traffic throughout the day and night? 

How does the pedestrian traffic vary at various times of day and night? 

Type of Neighborhood

What is the type of area (commercial, residential)? 

What types of buildings are found in the area (homes, businesses, schools, offices)? 

Safety

Is the location perceived as safe or unsafe?
Determining if Lighting is Needed in an Area (continued) 

Module 1, Slide 31

The grade of a roadway is one factor to consider in determining the need for roadway 

lighting. 

Other factors that should be part of your consideration of whether or not lighting is 

needed in an area include: 

 Geometry 

 Number of lanes on a roadway 

 Roadway width 

 Is there a shoulder on the roadway? 

 Are there slopes or curves on the roadway? 

 The grade of the roadway 

 Does the road have a median? 

A study should be conducted looking at all of these factors in order to decide if lighting 

is likely to make a positive impact on a particular stretch of road or at an intersection or 

other type of interchange. The answers to the various questions posed here will guide 

you in your determination of the need for roadway lighting. 
Components of “Good” Lighting Design 

Module 1, Slide 32

Continuous lighting along a curve on an access road at night provides good illumination 

along the roadway.

There are several factors that contribute to the quality and effectiveness of a roadway 

lighting design and installation. These include: 

Illuminance or Luminance - Provide the correct amount of light for each type of 

roadway situation. Some areas, such as busy intersections, will need more light than

others, such as low-speed roadways. 

Uniformity - How evenly light is applied to roadway surfaces. You want to avoid large 

contrasts between light and dark areas along the road. 

Glare - You want to avoid using light fixtures where the light source is not well-shielded, 

or that may appear as excessively bright to drivers. 
Components of Good Lighting Design (continued) 

Module 1, Slide 33

In the picture above, a decorative post-top light fixture is used in an historic area of this 

city to blend with the aesthetics of the surrounding buildings. 

Additional factors contributing to good roadway lighting include: 

Aesthetics and Appearance - Light fixtures are seen both during the day and at night. 

It is important that they fit the character of an area. 

Cost - It is important to consider the first cost of a lighting system (purchase and 

installation) as well as the operating costs (energy and maintenance) of the system. 

Light Pollution - You need to consider how the lighting system might contribute to sky 

glow (light up into the night sky) and/or light trespass (light falling off the roadway onto 

peoples’ property along the road). 
Knowledge Check 

Module 1, Slide 34 

Select the correct answer: 

The density of pedestrian traffic throughout the day and night is a factor in determining if 

roadway lighting is needed in an area. 

 a) True 

 b) False 

The correct answer is on the next page. 
Knowledge Check Answer 

Module 1, Slide 35

The correct answer is a) True. Pedestrians are a key consideration when determining if 

roadway lighting is needed in an area. (See Module 1, Slide 30.) Some questions to 

ask:

 How heavy is the pedestrian traffic throughout the day and night? 

 How does the pedestrian traffic fluctuate at various times of day and night? 
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Lighting Handbook 

Module 1, Slide 36

https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/roadway_dept/night_visib/lighting_handbook

The FHWA Lighting Handbook will guide you in determining if lighting may be needed, 

or "warranted" in a location.

"Warrants do not represent requirements to provide lighting. They are a method 

for evaluating and prioritizing projects in terms of lighting. FHWA uses these 

warranting methods as a way to evaluate where federal aid could be better spent 

to increase safety and not to establish lighting requirements." 
The Warranting Process 

Module 1, Slide 37

Used to determine if lighting may be effective at improving the safety of a particular 

roadway, intersection, interchange, or other area.
AASHTO Warranting System 

Module 1, Slide 38

https://bookstore.transportation.org/item_details.aspx?ID=1412 

AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials) 

provides a system to determine if lighting is needed on highways, freeways, 

interchanges and bridges. AASHTO defines warrants for: 

 Continuous Freeway Lighting (CFL) 

 Complete Interchange Lighting (CIL) 

 Partial Interchange Lighting (PIL) 

This warranting system is based on such factors as: 

 Traffic volumes 

 Spacing of freeway interchanges 

 Lighting in adjacent areas 

 Night-to-day crash ratio
AASHTO Warrants for Continuous Freeway Lighting 

Module 1, Slide 39

The chart below provides information on the cases for where continuous freeway 

lighting may be warranted. 
AASHTO Warrants for Complete Interchange Lighting 

Module 1, Slide 40

Complete interchange lighting (CIL) is defined as the lighting of the freeway through the 

interchange, including: 

 Main Lines 

 Direct Connections 

 Ramp Terminals 

 Frontage Road and Crossroad Intersections 
AASHTO Warrants for Partial Interchange Lighting 

Module 1, Slide 41

Partial interchange lighting (PIL) is defined as a lighting system that provides 

illumination only at the decision making areas of the roadway, including: 

 Acceleration and Deceleration Lanes 

 Ramp Terminals 

 Crossroad at Frontage Road or Ramp Intersections 

 Other Areas of Nighttime Hazard
AASHTO Warrants for Bridges 

Module 1, Slide 42

Lighting would be recommended for this bridge because it also has pathways for 

pedestrians.

AASHTO recommends that lighting be provided on long bridges in urban and suburban 

areas even if the approaches are not lighted. 

On bridges without full shoulders, lighting can enhance both safety and utility of the 

bridges, and is therefore recommended. 

Where bridges are provided with sidewalks for pedestrian movements, lighting is 

recommended for pedestrian safety and guidance. 
Warrants for Collector, Major and Local Streets 

Module 1, Slide 43

The roadway lighting warranting process in the U.S. is based on the system published 

by the Transportation Association of Canada. 

The warranting process published by the Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) is 

used in the United States to help determine if lighting is needed for the following types 

of streets:

 Major (Street) - Serves as the principal network for through traffic 

 Collector (Street) - Roadways servicing traffic between major and local streets 

 Local (Street) - Provides direct access to residential, commercial, industrial or 

other abutting properties.
Warrants for Collector, Major and Local Streets (continued) 

Module 1, Slide 44 

The TAC warranting system is based on a point scale, taking into account the following 

factor types: 

 Geometric Factors 

 Operational Factors 

 Environmental Factors 

 Crash Rates

Each of these factors is assigned a numeric rating (R) from 1 to 5. It is also assigned a 

weight (W) based on its relative importance. A score is obtained for each criterion by 

multiplying (R x W). These scores are then added together. Lighting is warranted if the 

total score for all criteria is above 60. Lighting is automatically warranted if the night/day 

crash ratio is greater than 2 to 1 (twice as many crashes at night vs. during the daylight 

hours).
Warrants for Collector, Major and Local Streets (continued) 

Module 1, Slide 44 (continued)

Operational Factors

Rating Factor R Weight 

W

Enter 

R

Score 

R × W

1 2 3 4 5

 Signalized Intersections (%) 80 to 100 70 to 80 60 to 70 50 to 60 0 to 50 0.15

 Left Turn Lane

All Major 

Intersections 

or 1-Way

Substantial 

Number of 

Major 

Intersections

Most Major 

Intersections

Half of Major 

Intersections

Infrequent 

Number or 

Two-Way 

Turn Lane*

0.70

 Median Width (m) >10 6 to 10 3 to 6 1.2 to 3 0 to 1.2 0.35

 Operating or Posted Speed

 Limit (km/h) ≤40 50 60 70 ≥80 0.60

 Pedestrian Activity Level Low Medium High 3.15

Subtotal Operational Factors (O):

*If this condition is met, lighting is warranted.

Environmental Factors

Rating Factor R Weight 

W

Enter 

R

Score 

R × W

1 2 3 4 5

 Percentage of Development

 Adjacent to Road (%) nil nil to 30 30 to 60 60 to 90 >90 0.15

 Area Classification Rural Industrial Residential Commercial Downtown 0.15

 Distance from Development

 to Roadway (m) >60 45 to 60 30 to 45 15 to 30 <15 0.15

 Ambient (Off Roadway)

 Lighting Nil Sparse Moderate Distracting Intense 1.38

 Raised Curb Median None Continuous

At All 

Intersections 

(100%)

At Most 

Intersections 

(51% to 

99%)

At Few 

Intersections 

(≤50%)

0.35

Collision Factors Subtotal Operational Factors (E):

 Night-to-Day Collision Ratio <1.0 1.0 to 1.2 1.2 to 1.5 1.5 to 2.0 >2.0* 5.55

Collision Factors (C):

*If this condition is met, lighting is warranted.
Warranting Method for Intersections 

Module 1, Slide 45

Lighting at this intersection would be automatically warranted because it is signalized. 

The warranting method for determining the need for lighting at intersections uses a TAC 

worksheet point method similar to the method used for streets on the previous pages. It 

is based on similar types of factors including geometric, operational, environmental, and 

the crash rate. 

Critical factors are:

 Traffic volume 

 Nighttime crashes 

 Crosswalks 

 Raised medians 

Full lighting of the intersection is automatically warranted if the intersection is signalized.

Full lighting is also warranted if the score of greater than 240 points in total is achieved 

when adding up all of the weighted ratings for each individual criterion. 

Partial lighting is warranted if a total score of 151 to 239 points is achieved.

Delineation lighting is warranted for a score of 120 to 150 points.

No lighting is warranted for a total score less than 120 points. 
Knowledge Check 

Module 1, Slide 46

Select the correct answer:

If a municipality goes through the warranting process for a roadway, and the process 

determines that roadway lighting is warranted, hey are then legally required to install 

lighting on that roadway. 

 a) True 

 b) False

The correct answer is on the next page. 
Knowledge Check Answer 

Module 1, Slide 47 

The correct answer is b) False. Warrants to not represent a requirement to provide 

lighting. They are a method for evaluating and prioritizing projects in terms of lighting. 

(See Module 1, Slide 36.) 
Roadway Lighting Documents 

Module 1, Slide 48

An example of an IES lighting guidance publication. 

Once you’ve used one of the warranting methods to help you to determine if lighting 

may be needed for a particular roadway, street, or intersection, there are many 

guideline documents that you can consult to help you to develop a design for the 

lighting. 

These documents will provide you with recommendations about the amount of light 

(either illuminance or luminance levels), the uniformity of the light distribution, and also 

provide you with recommendations on how to limit glare from light fixtures.
Roadway Lighting Documents (continued) 

Module 1, Slide 49

 

Some commonly used lighting guidelines include: 

 ANSI/IES-RP-8-14 - American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and 

Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) Recommended Practice (RP) for Roadway 

Lighting, published in 2014. 

 ANSI/IES-RP-22-11 - Recommended Practice for Tunnel Lighting, published in 

2011. 

 IES-RP-19-01 - Recommended Practice for Roadway Sign Lighting, published in 

2001. 

 IES-DG-19-08 - Design Guide (DG) for Roundabout Lighting, published in 2008. 

 AASHTO - Roadway Lighting Design Guide, published in 2005. 

 IES/IDA MLO - IES/International Dark Sky Association (IDA) Model Lighting 

Ordinance, published in 2011. 
IES RP-8 Roadway Lighting 

Module 1, Slide 50

IES Recommended Practice for Roadway Lighting is commonly referred to as “RP-8.”

The IES recommended practice document for roadway lighting, provides lighting design 

criteria for streets/roadways based on luminance and glare ratio. Although the design 

criteria are based on luminance, illuminance is used for field verification of light levels. A 

conversion factor is provided to assist you to do this. 

Lighting design criteria for intersections is based on illuminance.

The average light level that you select for a particular roadway or intersection will be 

based on the level of pedestrian conflict (how many pedestrians use the area at night) 

and the functional classification of the roadway or intersection. 
IES RP-8 Roadway Lighting (continued) 

Module 1, Slide 51

Pedestrians crossing a city street at night. 

The lighting criteria included in IES RP-8 also include recommendations for uniformity 

(ratios of maximum to minimum light levels) as well as recommendations to limit glare. 

An interesting addition to the document that was made when it was last updated in 

2014, is that if pedestrian class changes over nighttime hours (for example, if fewer 

pedestrians are using the roadway area late at night), light level can change accordingly 

(typically be reduced). This allows for a practice called “adaptive lighting” which we will 

address in a later course module. 
IES RP-8 Roadway Lighting (continued) 

Module 1, Slide 52

The lighting along this roadway provides relatively uniform illumination well within the 

recommendations of IES RP-8.

IES recommendations for roadway lighting are given in luminance, which uses the 

measure candelas (cd) per square meter (m2). 

IES RP-8 average luminance recommendations: 

  Roadways (high speed) [0.6 – 1.0 cd/m2] 

  Streets (low speed) [0.3 – 1.2 cd/m2] 

Horizontal luminance ratio: Maximum-to-minimum

  Roadways (high speed) [5.0 – 6.0:1] 

  Streets (low speed) [5.0 – 10.0:1] 

IES recommendations for intersection lighting are given in illuminance which uses the 

measure lumen per square meter or lux. 

IES RP-8 illuminance recommendations for intersections: 

  [8.0 – 34.0 lux]

Horizontal illuminance ratio (street intersections): 

  Average-to-minimum [3.0 – 6.0:1] 
Knowledge Check 

Module 1, Slide 53

Select the correct answer:

In the IES Recommended Practice for Roadway Lighting, the lighting design criteria for 

intersections is based on:

 a) Illuminance 

 b) Luminance 

The correct answer is on the next page. 
Knowledge Check Answer 

Module 1, Slide 54 

The correct answer is a) Illuminance. Unlike the recommendations for lighting straight

sections of roadway, which are based on luminance, the IES recommendations for 

intersection lighting are based on illuminance. (See Module 1, Slide 52.) 
International Roadway Lighting Guidelines 

Module 1, Slide 55

International recommendations for lighting are similar to those in the U.S., but tend to 

more precisely define the various types of roadways. 

The Commission Internationale de l ́Eclairage (CIE), also known as the International 

Commission on Illumination publishes a guide - CIE No. 115, Lighting of Roads for 

Motor and Pedestrian Traffic. 

The CIE defines three main lighting classes for roadways: 

  M-motorized traffic 

  P-pedestrian traffic

  C-vehicle/pedestrian conflicts 

These classes are further refined into subclasses based on factors such as traffic speed 

and pedestrian conflict, similar to IES-RP-8. 

Recommendations for M-class roadways (roadways with primarily motorized traffic and 

little or no pedestrians are given in luminance. These are: 

  M1 (2 cd/m2) through M6 (0.3 cd/m2) 

Recommendation for P and C class roadways are provided in illuminance. 

  P Classes - P1 (15 lux) through P6 (2 lux)

  C Classes - C0 (50 lux) through C5 (7.5 lux)

If functional class changes at different times of night, light levels for a different class 

may be used during those times (this allows for “adaptive lighting” similar to IES RP-8).

 
Light Pollution and Light Trespass 

Module 1, Slide 56

There has been growing interest in recent years in limiting the amount of light up into 

the sky, which causes “sky glow” a phenomenon that limits our view of the night sky. 

Coupled with this is an interest in limiting the amount of light that leaves the roadway 

area and trespasses onto neighboring properties. 

There are two documents that provide recommendations on how to control unwanted 

light at night and therefore limit light pollution. These are:

IES-TM-11 - IES Technical Memorandum (TM) Light Trespass Research Results and 

Recommendations. This publication recommends the use of lighting “zones” to use less 

light in environmentally sensitive areas, for example. It also specifies lighting curfews to 

dim lighting down or to switch it off after certain hours of night when a roadway or street 

may be infrequently used. 

IES/IDA MLO - Model Lighting Ordinance. This provides recommendations to 

communities on how they might structure requirements to limit unwanted light at night. 
Conclusions 

Module 1, Slide 57 

This course module has provided information on: 

 The various benefits of roadway lighting. Reviewing research results that help 

you better understand why we light roadways at night. 

 The connection between lighting and visibility. How improvements in lighting 

can improve visibility and visual performance. 

 Important lighting terms and concepts. These will help you to better 

understand discussions and design guidelines about roadway lighting. 

 Warrants for roadway lighting. Understanding how to determine if lighting is 

needed on a roadway, intersection, or interchange. 

 Lighting guidelines and recommended practices. This information assists you 

to know where to look for more information to assist you with roadway lighting 

design 
Self-Assessment Quiz 

Module 1, Pages 58 to 65

Please answer each question. 

1. For which potential benefit of roadway lighting is there the least evidence? 

a.  Nighttime crash reduction 

b.  Crime reduction 

c.  Improved visibility 

d.  Increase sense of security

2. What is the standard measure of the amount of light? 

a.  Lumen 

b.  Wavelength 

c.  Retina 

d.  Contrast 

3. Which situation would result in the highest visual contrast? 

a.  Old markings on old pavement 

b.  Old markings on new pavement 

c.  New markings on new pavement 

d.  New markings on old pavement 

4. True or False? Luminance denotes the amount of light falling on a surface. 

a.  True 

b.  False 

5. What illuminance is approximately equal to 30 footcandles? 

a.  0.3 lux 

b.  3 lux 

c.  30 lux 

d.  300 lux 

6. Which factor is least likely to be important in deciding whether or not to install 

roadway lighting? 

a.  Traffic volume 

b.  Pedestrian volume 

c.  Average temperature 

d.  Night-to-day crash ratio 

7. What is the minimum ADT (average daily traffic) at which freeways in or near 

cities should be illuminated with continuous freeway lighting, according to 

AASHTO’s Roadway Lighting Design Guide? 

 _______ vehicles/day 

See the following page for the answer key to this self-assessment. 
Self-Assessment Quiz Answer Key 

Module 1, Slide 66

The correct answers for the self-assessment are provided below. 

1. For which potential benefit of roadway lighting is there the least evidence? 

a.  Nighttime crash reduction 

b.  Crime reduction (see Module 1, Slide 27)

c.  Improved visibility 

d.  Increase sense of security 

2. What is the standard measure of the amount of light? 

a.  Lumen (see Module 1, Slide 8)

b.  Wavelength 

c.  Retina 

d.  Contrast 

3. Which situation would result in the highest visual contrast? 

a.  Old markings on old pavement 

b.  Old markings on new pavement 

c.  New markings on new pavement (see Module 1, Slide 13)

d.  New markings on old pavement 

4. True or False? Luminance denotes the amount of light falling on a surface. 

a.  True 

b.  False (see Module 1, Slide 10) 

5. What illuminance is approximately equal to 30 footcandles? 

a.  0.3 lux 

b.  3 lux 

c.  30 lux 

d.  300 lux (see Module 1, Slide 9)

6. Which factor is least likely to be important in deciding whether or not to install 

roadway lighting? 

a.  Traffic volume 

b.  Pedestrian volume 

c.  Average temperature (see Module 1, Slide 30) 

d.  Night-to-day crash ratio 

7. What is the minimum ADT (average daily traffic) at which freeways in or near cities 

should be illuminated with continuous freeway lighting, according to AASHTO’s 

Roadway Lighting Design Guide? 

 30,000 vehicles/day (see Module 1, Slide 39)
Extended Example Problem

Consider a major roadway with the following geometric, operational, environmental, and 

collision characteristics. According to the TAC warrants for collector, major and local 

streets (Module 1, Slide 44), is lighting warranted? 

Geometric:

 Four lanes 

 3 m lane width 

 6 median openings per km (average) 

 65 driveways per km (on average) 

 Smallest radius curve 250 m 

 Largest vertical grade 2% 

 200 m sight distance 

 Parking for loading only 

Operational: 

 75% signalized intersections 

 Most major intersections have left turn lane 

 No median 

 Posted speed limit 60 km/h 

 Medium pedestrian activity 

Environmental:

 50% development adjacent to roadway 

 Commercial area 

 Development 20 m from roadway 

 Moderate ambient lighting 

 Raised curb median at 67% of intersections 

Collision: 

 Night-to-day collision ratio 1.4 

See the following page for the answer to this extended example problem.
Extended Example Problem (Answer Key)

For the example roadway, the following items are entered into the warranting tables: 
Extended Example Answer Key (continued)

In the example above, G + O + E + C = 29.9 + 18.55 + 7.19 + 16.65 = 72.29. This is 

greater than 60, so lighting is warranted for this roadway. 
Links to Other Resources 

Module 1, Slide 67

Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) Lighting Guidelines: 

https://www.ies.org/store/

AASHTO Roadway Lighting Design Guide: 

https://bookstore.transportation.org/item_details.aspx?ID=1412

FHWA Lighting Handbook: 

https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/roadway_dept/night_visib/lighting_handbook/

IES/IDA Model Lighting Ordinance: 

http://darksky.org/our-work/public-policy/mlo/

TAC Guide for the Design of Roadway Lighting: 

http://www.tac-atc.ca/en/publications/ptm-lighting06
Credits 

Module 1, Slide 68

Slide 22: Table courtesy of Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, WSP Global Inc., and 

DMD & Associates Ltd. 

Slide 39: Table courtesy of Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, WSP Global Inc., and 

DMD & Associates Ltd. 

Slide 40: Table courtesy of Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, WSP Global Inc., and 

DMD & Associates Ltd. 

Slide 41: Table courtesy of Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, WSP Global Inc., and 

DMD & Associates Ltd. 

All other images taken from U.S. Government publications or are released to the public 

domain by the module authors.