Would motion detector technology work with LED street-lighting?

Question

Leaving the issue of safety aside, would it be cost efficient to have LED street-lights "turn-on" only when motion is detected ?

Or would there be some problem with there being frequently repeating cycles---too many "offs and ons"? If feasible, would savings be significant, over, say---LED without motion detection?

Answer 1

That's an interesting idea.  I am sure if the idea is profitable and cost effective it will come to be.  That would save a bundle and reduce light pollution a great deal.

Answer 2

LED lights aren't yet cost effective. They are too expensive. That may change in the future, but right now they don't make economic sense.

However you don't need LED lights in order to use motion detection sensing. Normal incandescent lights will work for that. They would not have the lifetime that LED lights would under that much cycling, but it would work. However, I think the issue with motion detection with street lights is safety. City officials I'm sure would much rather have constant-on lights for public safety, and practically speaking there may be an issue with making sure all street lights reliably sense oncoming cars and pedestrations.