Comments on: Dial4Light to turn off street lights with your phone

Responsible denizens in Germany have put in place a system Dial4Light that lets cell phone users turn on the street lamps only when someone actually needs illumination.

[retroboy77]

It's like the "Put-outer" from Harry Potter!

[Zandora777]

This is stupid. If you don't have a cellphone w/ this feature then you have to deal w/ the dark. Also, having to dial the lights every time you want to walk (or drive by) would be way too inconvenient, not to mention dangerous while driving. If you were driving, by the time you got the lights on you would be past them.

[janpbs]

This is a great idea. Unfortunately, some smart criminals would take advantage of this here in the States and turn off lights so that they could commit crimes.

[PittCaleb]

We've been doing this in the General Aviation community for quite some time (read: decades). Many small airports have lights that only turn on when you key the mic a number of times on a specific frequency. They only stay on for a set period of time and then turn off again.

[aka_tripleB]

One question: how do you know what number to call for each light?

[viper396]

Why not just put a motion/heat sensor into the lights to detect when someone is around? (the floodlight in my driveway does that) Motion/heat sensing lighting is tried and true and works fine for office buildings, public restrooms, and around homes so why couldn't they use them in street lights instead of requiring everyone to carry a cell phone?

Having to use your cellphone to turn on a streetlight seems like a complex solution to a relatively simple problem.

[USDecliningDollar]

viper396 - your suggestio

[LunaticSX]

Why does the headline say that this story is about turning OFF street lights, when the text of the story is clearly about turning them ON?

If criminals could dial up a light and tell it to turn off, then indeed there would be problems. That's not the case, though. The street lights only turn off when 15 minutes have elapsed since the last time someone dialed them up to turn them on. There's probably an additional timer involved, too, set for the average length of time it takes a person to walk from one end to the other of the lit up row of lights. The 15 minute timer would only start after that.

Also, no doubt this is only for pedestrian areas, and wouldn't be implemented for roads. (Besides, cars have headlights anyway.)

[RKRKAR]

Another solution running around looking for the problem. Can anyone say environmentalist?

[ColinHenshaw]

This is an excellent idea that will help reduce greenhouse emissions. Street lighting should only be used sparingly on a needs must basis, where needed, when needed, and in the correct amounts. If this suggestion could be more generally applied it will go a long way to curb the general abuse of street lighting that we see in our cities. Most crime occurs in daylight, ergo criminals need light. Contrary to the generally held belief, street lighting does not reduce crime. If anything it promotes it by encouraging people to behave more at night as they do during the day. With less lighting, crime statistics should go down, so if this idea becomes more widespread, the benefits will be enormous.
The environmental effects of street and other forms of lighting at night are now well established, so if amount of it can be reduced and normal darkness restored, then wildlife will also benefit.