Recurring concern

Inadequate outdoor safety lighting

First to latest report 26 Feb 2014 — 28 Nov 2025

Reports that mention this concern
44
Times this concern has been raised
47
Stated actions linked to this concern
26

What this concern includes

Includes reports identifying absent, poor, uneven or obstructed lighting in outdoor areas such as roads, crossings, railway environs, venue grounds and other public-access locations.

What is not included
  • Excludes deficiencies limited to warning signs, barriers, fencing, vegetation or other controls unless inadequate lighting is itself identified.
  • Excludes indoor or domestic lighting arrangements that are not part of an outdoor public or operational safety setting.
  • Excludes general darkness or poor visibility where no lighting deficiency or lighting control is identified.

Reports and published responses 44 reports

See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response

  1. County Durham and Darlington

    AI-generated summary

    Sopeluwa Babatunde Peters · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Sopeluwa Babatunde Peters died by drowning in the River Wear on 30 October 2013, after likely falling into the river while descending steep steps in Drury Lane, Durham City, while under the influence of alcohol. Concerns included poor illumination, the absence of a handrail, the steepness of the steps, and a low riverside wall that provided limited safety protection.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Poor illumination of steps

    Wider context from the report

    “(1) The steps are steep, poorly illuminated, with no handrail and on the evidence are said to be particularly difficult to negotiate at any time even more so by an individual who may be under the influence of alcohol. The wall at the riverside on the path opposite the steps/alleyway is only 690 mm’s high and does not create much of a safety barrier. ”

    Source location

    Sopeluwa Babatunde Peters · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 1 · concerns

    Open source report

    Source evidence

    How this respondent position was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Lighting the location is not considered helpful because it would create dangerous light-dark contrast and lighting all riverbank paths is impractical and inappropriate.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “Whilst lighting the location may assist, it would result in a lit area leading to unlit riverside paths, creating greater contrast between areas of light and dark. It is felt that lighting all the riverbank paths would be both impractical and inappropriate due to the detrimental effect on the setting of the World Heritage Site. On balance it is not considered helpful to light this location.”

    Source location

    2014-0206-Response-by-Durham-County-Council
    Page 2 · response
    Published 8 May 2014

    Open published response

  2. North Yorkshire (West)

    AI-generated summary

    Ian Sidney Martin · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Ian Sidney Martin fell on wet, slippery and worn steps on a canal bridge while travelling from Skipton Bus Station to meet his wife, sustaining a head injury from which he died in hospital later that day. The principal concerns were the dangerous condition of the steps and poor lighting around the bridge.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Poor lighting in the area of the bridge

    Wider context from the report

    “(2) The poor lighting in the area of the bridge. ”

    Source location

    Ian Sidney Martin · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 1 · concerns

    Open source report

  3. Warwickshire

    AI-generated summary

    Sean Andrew Morley · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Sean Andrew Morley was struck and killed by a motor vehicle while crossing the A444 Bedworth By-pass on foot between 3am and 4am on 2 September 2012. The report raised concerns that the road was regularly used by pedestrians and cyclists despite having no warning signs, street lighting, barriers, or other protective features, and that these conditions created a risk of further fatal collisions.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Lack of street lighting on the road

    Wider context from the report

    “(1) I heard evidence that the stretch of the A444 where Sean died is regularly used by pedestrians and cyclists, who walk or ride on the grass verge at the side of the carriageway or on the edge of the carriageway itself. (2) Since Sean’s death, there has been a further incident on the same stretch of road where a pedestrian was struck by a car. Fortunately, the injuries were not fatal. (3) There are no signs warning pedestrians or cyclists of the dangers of using the road. There are no street lights. The speed limit on the road is 70mph. There is no barrier or other protective features between the vehicular traffic and pedestrians. (4) These factors strongly suggest that there is a risk of further fatal collisions between vehicles and other road users. ”

    Source location

    Sean Andrew Morley · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 1 · concerns

    Open source report

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Carry out a feasibility study for a separated footpath between Walsingham Drive and Sutherland Drive, including costs, benefits, speed limits and lighting.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “4. Evidence was also given that proposals to introduce a footpath to enable pedestrians to walk between Walsingham Drive and Sutherland Drive, separated from the fast moving traffic would need to be properly investigated through a feasibility study. A feasibility study is to be carried out by consultants on behalf of the County Council and the level of footfall provided by the CCTV survey will feed into this study, giving a clear understanding of the level of usage such a facility would attract. This study will consider the cost and benefit of the introduction of a footpath, given the limitations of the road safety budget. Included in the study will be the speed limit for the road and other factors such as street lighting etc. The feasibility study is expected to be completed by the end of September 2014.”

    Source location

    Response from Warwickshire County Council
    Page 1 · response
    Published 24 March 2014

    Open published response

  4. North Northumberland

    AI-generated summary

    Samuel Eric Shaw · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Samuel Eric Shaw, aged 70, died after being struck by a southbound ambulance while crossing the A1 at Haggerston on 29 October 2013. Concerns included the absence of warning signs and a central pedestrian refuge, poor lighting, and the need for pedestrians to cross both lanes of a 60 mph road from the bus stop to Haggerston.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Inadequate lighting and visibility at the pedestrian crossing

    Wider context from the report

    “At Haggerston Holiday Park, adjoining the east side of the A1 trunk road there are hundreds of caravans located and several hundreds of people come to stay and visit regularly. Access from public transport is by buses which also stop at various towns and villages along the A1 Trunk road. The road is the main strategic highway route between Scotland and England. The speed limit at Haggerston is 60 miles per hour and those travelling north on buses have to set down on the west side and cross both lanes of the A1 Trunk road traffic, through an unlit area to reach Haggerston. The visibility of pedestrians on the road for drivers travelling at up to 60 mph is restricted because of the need to use dipped headlights. There is no warning sign for motorists travelling south to alert drivers of pedestrians crossing the road. There is no central refuge for pedestrians crossing the road at the crossing point. ”

    Source location

    Samuel Eric Shaw · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report

    Source evidence

    How this respondent position was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Existing lighting and signing meet current standards, so no immediate action is required.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “I have concluded that the lighting and signing provision meets current standards and therefore no immediate action is required to address your concerns.”

    Source location

    Response from Highways Agency
    Page 3 · response
    Published 26 February 2014

    Open published response

Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.

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Data last updated 7 September 2026