The Netherlands does not yet have any standards and recommendations on the lighting of short tunnels and underpasses. This paper contains some proposals which are based on Industria's 75 years' experience of lighting almost all the long traffic tunnels in that country. It does not claim to answer all lighting problems. The practical problems are whether the tunnel or underpass needs to be lit, whether or not it should be lit only during the night, and what level of illumination should be used. There are considerable differences of opinion about whether and when to light tunnels during the day. They are reflected in current international and national standards, which all seem to use the criterion of tunnel length. In the author's view, tunnel height is also significant. Some recommendations are made about appropriate levels of daytime lighting in vehicle underpasses and in pedestrian and cycle tunnels. Recommendations are also made about evening and night lighting, based on those current in The Netherlands. The main findings of the paper are presented in two flow charts. Other relevant aspects include luminaire position and durability, tunnel construction features, and public safety.
Abstract