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A Solution of The Road'PHE proMMou in the new British Road Traffic Act. where a speed limn will only be enforced on those roads where there is street lighting, has directed attention to the state ot '•treot lighting generally In that country. and the conclusion is that it is bad.It is bad * writes Victor Bayley in the I^ondon “Daily Mirror) because the underlying principles have hitherto been disregarded. But a better state of affairs is coming.It is a curious fact that invention never copies Nature In the long run Locomotion is not effected by means of thrusting pairs of legs, but by a turning wheel, although the wheel is nowhere found in Nature. Siimlarlyship propulsion is not achieved by imitating the sinuous movements of fish. but by the highly artificial screw or paddle-wheel. Aerial flight is not encompassed by flapping wings.In short, man progresses not by imitating Nature, but by evolving some quite original method of attaining his purpose. But he generally starts by trying imitation.In regard to outdoor illumination wc ore still in the stage of trying to imitate Nature—with unsatisfactory results. If we could cause the sky to glow artificially at night we should have achieved the ideal form of lighting. But [this is beyond us, except as a local •stunt, such as a firework or searchlight display.Yet we are still trying to obtain an Imitation of a daylight sky by hoisting lamps of ever-increasing brilliance Into the air. In the hope that we shall thereby attain the desired end. But the only effect is to increase dazzleLighting Problem--By Victor Bay ley -----“It will br possible to Illuminate the road surface itself by mrjns of toughened flans pavinr blocks containing the gaseous discharge tubes.:£i'd to produce disconcerting shadows, which are positively dangerous.The situation is indeed not fai short of ludicrous. The ilght Is wanted at or near ground level. Yet we continue to light high up in the air. where it is not wanted.In an effort to increase ground tllu-1 mination. the intensity of the lights isdoubled and redoubled; but as the resulting glare is intolerable, the lights are hoisted higher, thus dissipating their illuminating power and causing dangerous ground shadows.What motorist docs not know the terror he feels of the unllghted pedestrian or cyclist, invisible in a patch of black shadow'?But relief is at hand, and road lighting authorities are realising at last that it is at ground level that the light is required, and not 30 ft. in the oir.The way has been shown, almost by accident, by the now familiar floodlighting qf buildings. Intended primarily as a means of displaying the architectural or publicity value of certain buildings, this ingenious method showed '.O our astonished illuminating engineers that by throwing light upwards from round level they obtained far bettei illumination than by throwing light downwards from a great heightThe SolutionThis almost accidental discovery gives the key to the street illumination of the future, and the progress of invention and discovery has supplied the means of « ITecting the desired revolution.The gaseous discharge Ump hlrh it now so familiar a sight for •hop. restaurant, and theatre publicity display has placed at the disposal of illuminating engineers a means of generating a uniform flow at or near ground level at per candle-power of lea that produced by any other means of lighting.I Where economy and efficiency march so happily hand in hand the coming i revolution cannot long be delayed.The method of application of the light will lend itself to ingenious adaptation It may be that we shall see before long arterial and main roads illuminated by means of kerbs glowing with internal light.Indeed, with the new form of light consisting of long tubes, apparently, filled with liquid light it will be possible to illuminate the road surface itself by means of toughened glass paving blocks containing the gaseous discharge tubes.Dazzle aad ShadowBy this means the whole ground surface. to a height of 10 ft or so. will be suffused in a gentle, yet brilliant glow from which all dazzle and shadow will be absent.Let any motorist consider for a moment how he perceives other ear*, bicycles, and pedestrian* ahead of him. He sees them by dfrect vision, of course, by day. but at night he see*them silhouetted against the surface of the road ahead.If anyone doubts this let him tea: its accuracy the next time he travels by car. and be will find that it is true This fact is an additional reason for illuminating the road surface and the kerb from within, rather than by attempting the hopeless task of pouring a sufficiency of light down from a heightIn the road of the future night driving will W safe, because the motorist will see ahead of him. Instead of a dassling multitude mi brilliant points of light, a roadway glowing clearly and steadily, with every pedestrian and cyclist dearly silhouetted against the limpid river •f light along which he b travel-
Newspaper Details
Adelaide Mail
Adelaide, South Australia, AU
Sat, Aug 18, 1934
Page 9
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
GB 16 Aug 2021
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