Why do we need street lights?

There weren't any street lights on around here last night.

Was it a problem? No.

Cars, or rather, car drivers could still see where they were going. Walkers didn't seem to be suffering any difficulty either, due to the full moon. Only one had a torch and they were actually talking and smiling at each other as they passed.

Maybe in the days when car head lights were pathetic street lighting was needed but those days are gone.

What about security? Surely having areas lit up deters low lifes hanging around and creating trouble.
Or does it?
Don't the local low lifes hang around the shops and bus stops because they are lit up? There weren't many around last night.

No doubt the lights out was only a temporary glitch rather than a new power/cost saving policy from the local council still...

It was a nice night last night.