# Odd Question About Street Lights? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [October 29, 2001, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-question-about-street-lights/90309 "2001-10-29T16:23:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NPavelka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/edb3f5/32.png) [@NPavelka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NPavelka)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-question-about-street-lights/90309/1 "2001-10-29T16:23:36Z")
This is a bit unusual, but here goes… I have noticed this for years, whenever I walk under a street lamp they flicker and go out. This happens about 40% of the time but usually when I am alone or with only one other person. Any idea how or why this happens? Or do have some sort of weird electromagnetic aura? Thanks, Nicholas ---
**Author:** ![AndyJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8491ac/32.png) [@AndyJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndyJ)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-question-about-street-lights/90309/2 "2001-10-29T16:27:14Z")
[http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4\_047.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4_047.html) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-question-about-street-lights/90309/3 "2001-10-29T16:36:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NPavelka \* > \*\*This is a bit unusual, but here goes… I have noticed this for years, whenever I walk under a street lamp they flicker and go out. This happens about 40% of the time but usually when I am alone or with only one other person. Any idea how or why this happens? Or do have some sort of weird electromagnetic aura? > > Thanks, > Nicholas \*\* So, it always happens sometimes, and always when you’re either alone or not alone, hmmmm. ---
**Author:** ![NPavelka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/edb3f5/32.png) [@NPavelka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NPavelka)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-question-about-street-lights/90309/4 "2001-10-29T16:51:55Z")
> [@](#): > > So, it always happens sometimes, and always when you’re either alone or not alone, hmmmm Ok so I could have versed it better, this phenomenon only happens when I am with fewer than 3 other people but definatly more frequently when I am alone. It’s definatly sporatic but has happened to as many as 50% of the street lamps on a typical evening journey home. I was more wondering if there is some sort of sensor imbeded in the pavment… the electromagnetic thing was ment as a joke. PS - AndyJ thanks for the link but still dosen’t really answer my question, but I am kinda reassured that I’m not alone. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kamandi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5daacb/32.png) [@Kamandi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamandi)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-question-about-street-lights/90309/5 "2001-10-29T16:57:28Z")
Why not try an experiment? Next time you go walking at night, count the number that go out as you pass under them **and** the total number of streetlights you pass under. Those you see go out in the distance don’t apply. Do it when alone, and then with one other and more than one other person. Make sure you walk under a significant number of lights on each trip. Fifty per trip should do it. Then compare the ratio of lights that went out with the total for each trip. Bonus test: keep track of those lights that go out in the distance as well. We can assume that you did not affect them, right? But what if it doesn’t work when you’re counting? Hmmmmm… ---
**Author:** ![Kamandi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5daacb/32.png) [@Kamandi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamandi)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-question-about-street-lights/90309/6 "2001-10-29T17:01:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NPavelka \* > \*\*I was more wondering if there is some sort of sensor imbeded in the pavment… \*\* Nope. The city installs streetlights to _help its citizens see at night_, not to freak them out. ---
**Author:** ![Corrvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bbce88/32.png) [@Corrvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corrvin)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-question-about-street-lights/90309/7 "2001-10-29T17:32:01Z")
Many of the streetlights here are very near other lights, but they still use photoelectric cells to turn the lights on when there isn’t enough light and off when there is. We have a lot of trees, and a near-constant wind. So as you approach a light, it’s possible that a tree branch or two or three is blocking light from reaching the lamp’s photo cell, making it dark enough for the light to come on. The wind gusts (or dies down) and the tree branches move, allowing light from another nearby lamp to reach the sensor, and the light goes off. One of the security lights outside my window does this all summer, but when the leaves fall in autumn, the tree branches alone don’t block that much light, and the light stays off all winter because the one a few feet away keeps its sensor from turning it on. Corr ---
**Author:** ![kenken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/edb3f5/32.png) [@kenken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenken)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-question-about-street-lights/90309/8 "2001-10-29T20:03:07Z")
I noticed this phenomenon, too, and thought it was some strange aura. That was, until a Public Works friend told me that most street lights turn off automatically when they get too hot. They turn back on after a few minutes, when they cool down again. You probably just are more aware of your surroundings when you are alone or only with one or two more people. ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-question-about-street-lights/90309/9 "2001-10-29T20:44:43Z")
The lamps are using slow morse code to call you paranoid. ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2001, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-question-about-street-lights/90309/10 "2001-10-29T23:23:51Z")
Off to Comments on Cecil’s Columns. ---
**Author:** ![goat\_attack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/97f17d/32.png) [@goat\_attack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/goat_attack)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-question-about-street-lights/90309/11 "2001-11-01T07:00:22Z")
I’ve heard stories about physics geeks in college stealing a high power laser, and aiming it at the light sensors of streetlamps while hiding to freak people out. I have no idea if this would actually work, but it’s something to consider. ---
**Author:** ![sford](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/edb3f5/32.png) [@sford](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sford)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2001, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-question-about-street-lights/90309/12 "2001-11-02T18:02:24Z")
Another good thing for NPavelka to try is this: when he sees a streetlight go out, stop and hang out for five minutes or so. Watch what happens to that lamp. There are several in our apartment complex that cycle on and off, I assume due to a faulty regulator or temperature sensor or something. They turn off, stay off for a few minutes, then come back on for a few more minutes. I could definitely imagine people walking past these slow blinkers and thinking that they are causing the lights to go out. ---
**Author:** ![nicholasf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/34f0e0/32.png) [@nicholasf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nicholasf)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-question-about-street-lights/90309/13 "2003-09-04T04:14:12Z")
This happens to me and i noticed in the actual archive story that people notice it more after having had alcohol, not to say they were drunk, but that maybe this increases some electricity or something people put out. I have even walked past one with a friend had it go out then come back on as we had passed, we then went back and it did it again. Strange and scary. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-question-about-street-lights/90309/14 "2003-09-04T04:45:44Z")
> [@](#): > > maybe this increases some electricity or something people put out Ummm, yeah, right, we **all** know about the electricity people put out _sidlesidlesidle_ ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-question-about-street-lights/90309/15 "2003-09-04T18:35:42Z")
> [@](#): > > I’ve heard stories about physics geeks in college stealing a high power laser, and aiming it at the light sensors of streetlamps while hiding to freak people out. I have no idea if this would actually work, but it’s something to consider. I’m going to call bull on this one. Every time I’ve seen physics nerds using lasers on streetlights to freak people out, they had permission to use the laser, and usually a member of the faculty who controlled the use of the laser present as well. Never have I seen this done with a _stolen_ laser. ---
**Author:** ![Wikkit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c0e974/32.png) [@Wikkit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wikkit)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-question-about-street-lights/90309/16 "2003-09-06T19:32:46Z")
I once spent part of a college night on a roof, throwing rocks at a street light below. When we managed to hit it, the entire block’s lights would go out for a bit. I never thought about trying a laser. Hmmm… ---
**Author:** ![thebluemagician](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecccb3/32.png) [@thebluemagician](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thebluemagician)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-question-about-street-lights/90309/17 "2003-09-10T02:24:19Z")
There was a report in 1967 of a lady with an oddly strong charge of electricity in her body…the story, in short, is as follows… The lady, Ann-Marie, was working in a new office when suddenly lights started going on and off, some actually blowing out, as well as the photocopier going crazy and messig up, and phones ringing with no one calling. Ann-Marie was tested by doctors and it was found that this was happening due to the electrical charges in her body, which became stronger when she was nervous. This happened in Rosenheim, Germany. I recalled reading the story awhile back and referred to the book I had read it in, “Amazing True Stories” by Don L. Wulffson. I am not positive on the origins of this story, or the true reason for this, but figured that it should be brought up due to the topic. There have been very few reports like this, but she has not been the only one, although her’s was the worst case known. ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-question-about-street-lights/90309/18 "2003-09-10T07:41:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kenken \* > \*\*I noticed this phenomenon, too, and thought it was some strange aura. That was, until a Public Works friend told me that most street lights turn off automatically when they get too hot. They turn back on after a few minutes, when they cool down again. You probably just are more aware of your surroundings when you are alone or only with one or two more people. \*\* Yeah, what is the deal with this? I’ve been given the same explanation, but it makes NO sense at all! You mean to tell me the bulb is too high wattage for the lamp? Or, the lamp is under designed for the bulb? Is this American-Made street lamps? 😃 I don’t get it. You mean we can put a man on the moon, but we can’t design a damn street light to function properly? Maybe there’s some better explanation out there? - Jinx