Why Streetlights?

The Story

Growing up near a city, streetlights, and paved roads were something I took for granted. But then I moved to Costa Rica, and I realized that this was not the norm everywhere.

This street pictured on the left is a typical neighborhood street, around a 30-second walk from where I now live. Dirt roads and poor lighting are fine during the day but can be dangerous after sunset. Two days before I took this picture, my parents and I were driving down this road to a local restaurant for dinner, and we commented that this particular stretch was quite dark. My mom and I walked home and chose to take another street that was better lit. Around the same time, an elderly couple was robbed on their way back home from another local restaurant at that exact corner. The next night, a local man was robbed and attacked on his way home and ended up spending multiple weeks in the hospital.

I heard about all of this on my way home from school the next day, and I decided to find some way to get this street lit. I did initial research and ended up with a design I realized I could use to help more communities in the same position as mine.

Streetlights by the Numbers

Effect on Crime

In 2019, a study done by Aaron Chaflin, Benjamin Hansen, Jason Lerner, and Lucie Parker in New York found a 60% reduction in index crimes in the area covered by the streetlight and at least a 36% reduction after accounting for spill-offs. The 36% figure accounts for the potential of crime relocating down the street, and represents an actual reduction in crime.

Effect on Car Accidents

Even though over 85% of road traffic deaths occur in developing countries, I was unable to find a single study about the efficacy of streetlights in these areas.

A compilation of studies done in high-income countries showed that adding and improving streetlights showed a statistically significant decrease in both traffic accidents and fatalities, though did not agree on a percentage amount.

Costs of Implementaion

I talked to Jeff Goode, the security committee lead and HOA treasurer of the neighborhood that the particular street that got me started was in. The neighborhood is working on lighting both that street and other dark spots within their five kilometers (three miles) of roads. Through the local government, it is going to cost them around $1,000 USD per pole as an initial cost, as well as a ₡4,000 CRC (~$8) ongoing cost per household for the electricity.

In other research, I found that this was actually on the lower end of costs, with many costing between $2,000-$3,000.