This article describes the results of a reassessment of the Institution of Lighting Engineers' Technical Report No 12, "Lighting of Pedestrian Crossings". The aim was to find out whether the reports original findings were still true, after 15 years. The most important question to ask now is whether the provision of supplementary lighting, above the recommended level of illumination, helps drivers to see pedestrians near or on pedestrian crossings. Two possible factors to consider are: (1) a driver's imperfect interpretation of his visual scene; (2) a pedestrian's false sense of security at a crossing. Pedestrians and motorists do not necessarily see the same things, and supplementary lighting will not overcome insufficient road lighting or extraneous lighting obscuring the crossing. Good rail lighting will reduce most of the problems, and British Standard BS5489 Part 2 details lighting positions in relation to pedestrian crossings. The revised TR12 does not give standard answers on how to light a pedestrian crossing; instead, it provides a step-by-step approach to a satisfactory solution through a series of specific questions, for which it provides appropriate answers. This approach is intended for lighting engineers.
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