Street Light
ELM-STL-26 Recommended Element
Street Light
A pole-mounted luminaire providing illumination for the roadway, typically mounted at a height and spacing designed primarily to serve vehicle visibility and drivers, though its light also reaches the surrounding sidewalk and public realm.
Working assessment: this pattern’s status reflects a preliminary Commonway System judgment call, pending final review.
#Why this pattern exists
Adequate roadway illumination reduces nighttime crash risk by improving driver visibility of the roadway edge, other vehicles, and pedestrians; this pattern exists to document the mounting height, spacing, and output considerations specific to vehicle-oriented lighting, distinct from the pedestrian-scale lighting that serves a different visual task.
#Key considerations
- Mounting height and spacing should follow established illumination standards for the roadway’s classification and speed, not a uniform default across all street types
- Light spillover and glare onto adjacent properties should be minimized through fixture selection and shielding
- Uniformity of illumination along a corridor matters more than peak brightness at any single point; dark gaps between light poles undermine the pattern’s purpose
#Related patterns
Pedestrian-scale Lighting (ELM-PSL-27) (the companion lighting pattern serving a different visual task and height); relevant Segment patterns this lighting serves
Unsourced claim
Formal citations for this pattern have not yet been compiled from primary sources.