Saving without risk: Luxembourg reduces lighting on motorways without compromising safety

As part of a policy to reduce energy costs, Luxembourg's Ministry of Mobility has been systematically reducing the number of streetlights on motorways since 2014. In 11 years, 872 luminaires and 731 lampposts have been removed, Mobility Minister Yuriko Backes said in response to a parliamentary enquiry.

Today, 7,267 lampposts remain on the country's motorways, and this reduction, according to the minister, has not affected road safety in any way. Rural and secondary roads have not been affected by the initiative - the number of lampposts remains stable there.

The method of dismantling proved to be practical: the poles were cut at a height of one metre, so that the road could be cleared quickly without stopping traffic. The remaining bases will only be removed as part of future major maintenance works in the relevant sections.

Special attention was paid to potentially dangerous areas: lights were not removed on high-risk sections, near junctions and exits. According to the minister, there has been a decrease in the number of fatal road accidents in recent years, which, in her estimation, proves that the removal of the lights has not worsened road safety.