Councils switch off street lights to save money

As more and more street lighting is turned off by councils to save money, esure warns of the potential safety implications for drivers.

In addition to studies that prove that driving after dark is more dangerous, research by esure car insurance revealed that over half of Brits (54 per cent) polled admitted they'd accidentally driven without headlights at least once and over 1 million motorists admitted to having crashed, made a sudden manoeuvre or had a ‘near miss' because they had forgotten to turn their lights on.

With winter fast approaching, bringing with it shorter days and longer nights, improper use of headlights becomes increasingly dangerous on Britain's roads. In an area with no street lights, the risk of road accidents is also likely to be exacerbated.

Mike Pickard, Head of Risk and Underwriting at esure, said: "It can be easy to forget to turn on your lights, especially when you've been driving for long periods of time or after you have made a stop, perhaps for petrol.

"Drivers must be extra vigilant during the winter and especially in areas where councils have turned off street lighting, to ensure they are driving with the correct lights at all times. Being visible on the roads and having the best visibility possible are both crucial for safe driving."