Street lighting: Unexpected benefits to young pedestrians from improvement

Concern about crime victimisation and the fear of victimisation has traditionally centred on the elderly, particularly on older women. It is unquestioningly assumed that young people- particularly young men - are mostly fearless, and that even when fearful, unamenable to change. Research carried out among a student population in Glasgow shows that both assumptions may well be false. Student pedestrians of both sexes can be very fearful of victimisation, and improved lighting can considerably lessen these fears.