The Department of Rural Roads will implement from 1 May onwards a measure to reduce electricity use for street lighting on roads, contributing to the country's energy conservation under conditions that do not compromise travel safety standards for the public, adjusted appropriately for each area.
On 25 April 2026, Mr. Phichit Hunsiri, Director-General of the Department of Rural Roads, disclosed that due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, a key global energy production and transportation region, the government has prioritized stringent management of the country's energy resources.
In this regard, the Department of Rural Roads has responded to the policy of Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, who instructed all agencies under the Ministry of Transport to strictly follow the government's energy-saving measures and to consider appropriate actions accordingly.
Regarding energy reduction methods, the Department of Rural Roads is to reduce energy use on rural highways without affecting safety standards. To ensure appropriate and maximally beneficial electricity use, the department has set measures to reduce street lighting electricity use on rural highways in low-risk areas, prioritizing the safety of road users and national security. Agencies under the department are requested to follow these procedures:
1. Reduce electricity use for street lighting on rural highways in low-risk areas based on these factors:
- Low nighttime traffic volume.
- Absence of danger points such as intersections, hazardous curves, bottlenecks, or densely populated community areas.
- No history of repeated accidents in the area.
2. The procedure to reduce street lighting electricity use will begin from 1 May 2026 as follows: turn off some street lights at night in applicable locations except high-risk areas such as intersections, dangerous curves, bridges, communities, or high-traffic zones, where lighting will remain normal.
- The timing for turning off lights will be set appropriately for each area.
- Implementation must not compromise national security or the safety of road users.
3. Agencies under the Department of Rural Roads must survey, analyze, and assess the suitability of areas before implementation and continuously monitor and evaluate results.
4. If risk increases in any area, street lighting can be restored immediately to normal operation.
5. Conduct thorough public relations efforts to promote understanding among the public.
Those with questions can contact Department of Rural Roads offices 1 through 18 and district offices nationwide or
the Department of Rural Roads hotline at 1146.