• • • LIGHTING • • •


MAKING SCHOOL SAFETY ZONES


IMPOSSIBLE TO MISS


BY TIM BAKER,


MANAGING DIRECTOR, ACROSPIRE


iven the critical role that lighting and signage play in driver awareness, what should electrical contractors and specifiers consider when upgrading school safety lighting? When people think about safety lighting, they


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often picture emergency lighting systems or industrial hazard beacons. But one of the most important safety lighting applications is also one of the most familiar: school safety zones. Every day, thousands of children travel to school on foot, by scooter, or by bike. Tragically, according to the road safety charity Brake, more than 3,350 children aged seven and under were killed or injured on roads in Britain in 2023, the equivalent of nine young children every day. For local authorities and contractors, improving visibility around schools remains a practical and urgent priority. School hazard warning lights, commonly known


as ‘wig wags’, are a key part of that safety infrastructure. The twin-amber flashing beacons alert drivers to reduce speed during drop-off and pick-up periods, reinforcing signage and traffic-calming measures. While simple in concept, they must operate reliably across multiple sites and changing conditions.


What good school


safety lighting looks like School safety lighting must do three things consistently: attract attention, operate reliably and be easy to manage.


As an external installation, they are typically exposed to wind vibration, rain and occasional


28 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING •MARCH 2026


vandalism. They must remain visible in low-light conditions, during winter afternoons and in busy roadside environments. Just as importantly, they must activate at the correct times for each school. For contractors, the challenge is often less about installation and more about long-term operation. Questions around control methods, connectivity and maintenance can determine whether a system remains dependable years after installation. A practical checklist when specifying school safety lighting includes:


• Ensuring visibility in real roadside conditions • Selecting durable, weather-resistant equipment • Confirming reliable control methods for scheduled operation


• Considering connectivity across multiple locations • Planning for maintenance and fault reporting


Treating school safety lighting as a managed network rather than a single product purchase helps avoid future issues.


Case study: Bath & North East Somerset Council


Bath & North East Somerset Council operates a network of 55 school crossing locations across the district. Maintaining consistent performance across these sites is essential, particularly where connectivity conditions vary.


The council sought a reliable and flexible hazard warning system that could adapt to different operating requirements across its school network. Some signs simply highlight the presence of a school, while others operate at defined times to support reduced-speed periods. Acrospire supplied its UK-manufactured aGlow twin-amber hazard warning lights to support the programme. Designed to meet TSRGD requirements, the units combine durable


construction with flexible control options suited to distributed installations.


A key factor was the ability to address connectivity challenges experienced at certain sites. The aGlow system supports multiple communications options, including Bluetooth, NB- IoT and 4/5G LTE, allowing the council to manage installations across varied environments using app- based controls or CMS-compatible platforms. The upgraded warning lights provide a clear visual signal during peak school travel times while supporting the council’s wider School Streets and active travel initiatives. The client commented: “We were looking for a solution that would be reliable, adaptable and able to handle the varied site conditions across our school network. The aGlow units provided the flexibility we needed in terms of connectivity, and they are helping us deliver safer school streets for pupils and parents alike.”


A broader lesson for contractors Projects like this highlight an important point: safety lighting is not only about illumination levels or hardware specification. It is about reliability, visibility and ease of management across real-world environments.


As local authorities continue to invest in safer school journeys and active travel initiatives, dependable safety lighting infrastructure will remain an essential part of the solution. For electrical contractors, this creates an opportunity to support clients with practical advice on specification, installation and long-term system performance. When school safety lighting works as intended, it becomes almost invisible, quietly reinforcing safer driver behaviour every day outside school gates.


www.acrospire.co electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk


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