Why brighter streets could make a big difference to feeling safe at night

With millions of streetlights now mapped across Britain, new data shows how lighting links to safety and confidence after dark.

Transcript

00:00Ordnance Survey has mapped more than 6.5 million streetlights across Britain, revealing which

00:06roads and paths are fully lit, mostly lit, mostly unlit or completely dark. Sunderland

00:11ranks as the best-lit city, while York sits at the bottom of the 50 largest towns and

00:16cities. The dataset is designed to help councils and planners identify areas where additional

00:21lighting could make walking, cycling and travel safer during darker evenings. The findings

00:27are particularly relevant given wider safety concerns. A YouGov survey found two-thirds

00:32of women feel unsafe walking home alone at night, at least sometimes, and a quarter say

00:38they always do. Half of women avoid being out at certain times to reduce risk, while many

00:43also feel unsafe using taxis or public transports. Younger women are especially affected, with

00:48nearly three-quarters of those aged 18 to 29 reporting concerns. Analysts say better lighting

00:54combined with careful urban planning could support safer communities after dark.