Dim street lights can no doubt be a safety concern.

Bay News 9 viewer Bob Strieder said the overhead lights along sections of the Gandy Bridge and along parts of 102nd Avenue west of Seminole Boulevard need attention.

"Obviously dim street lights are very dangerous for pedestrians and other traffic," Strieder said.

While Strieder mentioned specific spots along his commute, his concern brought up a larger issue for all of us.

Are there standards to how bright street lights need to be, and how is that standard maintained?

The answer is yes, according to Tom Washburn with Pinellas County.

"We review the lighting that we maintain on a monthly basis," Washburn said. "Lamp placement is pretty straightforward, and we are usually able to address those repairs immediately."

Washburn sent Bay News 9's Chuck Henson a copy of the county's rules for lighting our roads. It is 14 pages of regulations that ensure you can see on your ride home.


Lighting along the Gandy Bridge is a concern for viewer Bob Strieder

In most cases, county maintenance will get the job done. However, on the major routes, it's Duke Energy who makes the changes to brighten the lights or replace them.

The sections of roadway Strieder mentioned in his email have been reported and changes should be made there soon.

Here's how you can help: If there is a street light near you that is out or needs replaced, get the identification number off the pole before reporting the problem to the city or county.

That will make Duke Energy's job easier in finding the busted light. The company's goal is to have repairs made within 72 hours of your report.

You can also report issues like this using the See-Click-Fix app.