But glare, light trespass, uplight, overlighting, and energy waste should not be tolerated. Outdoor lighting decisions made today will affect the kind of environment we will live in for many years to come. Clearly what we all want and need is security and safety at night, at home and when we are away from home, for ourselves, our families, our homes and property, and for all others. The task is to be safe, not to just feel safe. This means that we need effective and efficient lighting.
Visibility is the goal.
We want to be able to see, not just have the criminal be able to see. This goal exists for us at home, on the streets, in parking lots, at work, wherever. Good lighting can be a help, poor lighting always compromises safety. Most crime actually occurs during the day, or inside buildings. However, we want the feeling and the reality of being safe outside at night.