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Roadway Lighting in Central Africa
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Overview
The economics of growing African nations place demands for improved social services for its citizens. Africa is developing into a thriving and expanding nation due to the discovery and harvesting of new natural resources including oil and copper. The increasing demand for electricity and the scarcity of resources for investment in costly power generation have further increased barriers to providing light in Africa. The lack of lighting infrastructure stems from a shortage of power production capacity and power distribution avenues. One proven solution to this problem is to provide reliable bright lighting through solar powered roadway lights.
Road safety at night
Where statistics are available from developing countries, crashes cost developing nations US$65 billion - more than double the amount of annual development assistance received. Source: Jacob, Aeron-Thomas, 2000: The World Report on Road Traffic Injury Prevention
Road Traffic Injuries (RTIs) kill 1.2 million lives and seriously injure 20-50 million per year. Rates are rapidly increasing in developing countries and is expected to rise 87% by 2020. Source: World Health Report 2004
These figures also show that night-time accidents are, on average, more severe, and the percentage of fatalities increases at night. Any improvements to the visibility of the road, its features, the vehicles on it- including pedestrians, cyclists, animals and carts - is likely to improve the overall accident record. CIE 180:2007 Road Transport Lighting for Developing Countries
Advantages of Solar Lighting
Sol’s easy to assemble lighting systems allows local labor to deploy and install in practically any location with no trenching, wiring, and connection to the grid making it quick, flexible and economical.
Proper lighting reduces vehicle and pedestrian accidents. Lighting decreases crime because villagers and police can see any criminal activity which may have been shrouded in darkness in the past.
Along roadways where solar lights are installed, economic and social activity increase near the lights. Having well-lit roads allow the work day to be extended because buses and cars can operate more safely. Villagers gather longer to socialize and many times students sit nearby to study longer helping them to achieve higher grades and opportunities for further education and jobs. Finally, there is a decrease in urban migration because villages now have the same commercial advantages and comforts of safety and security as their city counterparts.