National Highways’ decision to permanently switch off lighting on the Strategic Road Network (SRN) i
Case reference EIR2026/00509
Received 31 March 2026
Published 14 September 2026
Request
Because of the advice provided in their response (shown in italics below): 1. Following comprehensive assessments, a decision was made to permanently switch off street lighting on selected parts of the network. This measure is designed to reduce carbon emissions and environmental impact, with locations carefully selected as suitable candidates for this change. You would like to request the comprehensive assessments.
2. In addition to the proposed environmental benefits, the decision also considered road safety implications. Our detailed analysis shows how street lighting does not necessarily increase the risk of accidents and collisions. You would like to request the detailed analysis.
3. When reviewing accident data, the predominant cause of Personal Injury Collisions (PICs) is attributed to driver error, rather than any specific asset type, such as street lights. You would like to request the information that shows the predominant cause of Personal Injury Collisions (PICs) is attributed to driver error, rather than any specific asset type, such as street lights.
4. You would like to know whether any collaboration or discussion with road users was undertaken before National Highways made the decision to permanently turn off lighting on the SRN in the North West and Yorkshire regions.
Response
We can confirm that we hold some of the information you have requested.
We manage the strategic road network (SRN) in England. The scale and geographic distribution of our network means that it is necessary to divide the network into different operational regions.
https://nationalhighways.co.uk/roads-and-travel/road-projects/roads-we-manage/
North West region
Information provided
2. In addition to the proposed environmental benefits, the decision also considered road safety implications. Our detailed analysis shows how street lighting does not necessarily increase the risk of accidents and collisions.
You would like to request the detailed analysis.
Please see the accompanying documents listed below
• M62 J18-22 Lighting Appraisal Report
• NH604423-WSP-HLG-M6-J20A_J21A-RP-EO-0001-P01
• NH604423-WSP-HLG-M56-RP-EO-0001 P01
• NH622416-WSP-HLG-M60-RP-EO-0001-P01 (TA501 findings report)
Please note that information has been withheld from these documents under Regulation 13 of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 for personal information and Regulation 12(5)(a) for international relations, defence, national security or public safety, namely public safety where disclosure of road traffic collision causation data would, or would be likely to, endanger the physical or mental health of any individual, or endanger the safety of any individual.
We have considered the public interest in relation providing the causation information and whilst we understand that providing this information could aid understanding of decisions made by National Highways and help hold the organisation accountable to the decisions it has made, we believe that providing such information would, or would be likely enable individuals, friends and family to identify individual collisions and serious injuries or fatalities. This in turn could endanger the safety, either physically or mentally, of any individual and it would be irresponsible and unsafe to do so.
3. When reviewing accident data, the predominant cause of Personal Injury Collisions (PICs) is attributed to driver error, rather than any specific asset type, such as street lights. You would like to request the information that shows the predominant cause of Personal Injury Collisions (PICs) is attributed to driver error, rather than any specific asset type, such as street lights.
This information is STATS19 data which is publicly available and can be found here.
4. You would like to know whether any collaboration or discussion with road users was undertaken before National Highways made the decision to permanently turn off lighting on the SRN in the North West and Yorkshire regions.
No collaboration or discussion with road users was undertaken because we assess whether to permanently turn off lighting on the SRN in line with government policy.
Documents
This is National Highways' response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
You can browse our other responses or make a new FOI request.