Street lights go out when I pass by
 

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Did you pay your electric bill? :D

the lights do go out on their own, when they get too hot and it's usually in order...

That's happened to me too, it's wierd. Only on one road though, but it happened on several occasions. I only ever saw them go out while I was walking under them, never at other times.

I had 2 that i could see outside my window at my parents house and all night long they would go off and on, i've also had them turn off while walking under them and such i think it's just a coincidence. But i KNOW they go off on their own, Also sitting in a car with a girl under one it happend twice we were in the car for about 3 hours "talking"

glad I'm not the only one who's observed this occur. It always made me feel kinda weird cause every time I passed this one particular light on the side of the highway it'd go off. Freaky coincidence.

Either I'm having deja vu or I read about this happening to someone elsewhere on the internet. It has not happened to me. I doubt it's just coincidence that this his happening to you. Especially if it's ongoing. You have to go with statistics. If it happens to the average person less than once an year and it happens to you several times a year, then it's probably you. As to why it is happening, I have no idea.

I actually have the opposite several times, as I'm driving, even when it's like midnight or 2 in the morning or something when its completely dark, the lights will come on when I drive under them and go back out after I get to the next one, one might think that this is some kind of thing where the city does it to save power by switching them on and off when they're used, but nope, our cities not that advanced and we got a dumbass mayor. DAMN YOU VERA!!! but anyways, I think it's weird, because it happens to me a lot, and it's the opposite of what you guys are experiencing. Also I know it's not anything about electrical radiation or something from something in the car, because I drive a friggin old 67 Mustang, and there is nothing like that in the car wutsoever. Anyways, my 2 cents, I think it's creppy, but it's kinda cool for me when your on a date, and the lights turn on for you, kinda magical if you think about it.

Sorry bout that folks, it's the damn lightswitch on the wall... used to think it didn't operate anything... sooo every once in a while I flip it, sometimes quick sometimes slow.... then everyone started complaining bout the light thing... so I put two and two together...and with the answer of 2 I realised that it must be me.
Once again... sorry.

Never had it happen to me while walking, but it used to happen to me all the time when driving. And it was always the same lights.

The Straight Dope covered this topic, and I read it.
This is just one of those things, you only notice it when it happens.
Do you ever notice all the times a streetlight doesn't do this? Of course not. If it really was you, then the lights would either always do this, or quite often, but I bet only occurs about .001% of the time you pass under a streetlight, but it seems so strange that you notice it.

In The Straight Dope, it all just boiled down to coincidence.

It happens sometimes to me. The weird on was when I walked up a parking garage spiral ramp, and 36 lights in a row did it. That was fucking weird.

I wonder if something like this can run in the family, because my cousing has managed to set off metal detectors while wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt, shoes off, no metal anywhere on him.

weird, yeah i think it isnt you, ive never noticed this, does it only happen in USA? or do british lights do it as well?

I live in New Zealand and as I said above, it has happened to me.

(Yes, there are in fact places other than the US and Britain that have streetlight technology!)

Streetlights are controlled by photocells that turn them off when they "see" light, and turn them on when it's dark. Sometimes a car's headlights can reflect off of a wet road or a parked car window, hit the photocell, and turn off the light. It's not magic. It's a switch.

Darn space creatures messing with your head

Just a coincidence...........how many do you pass under that stay on??......Bet it is a Hell of a lot.......

Does that mean in my case that I am that friggin evil or have a darkness about me, that they turn on when I pass under them?
This has also happened where they turn on for me in broad daylight, not dusk or early morning, but midafternoon.
Also I've been on an completely empty completely dry freeway with nothing reflective and this has happened to me where they turn off, my car is very dark and unreflective as well, so it's not my car doing it.
Actually this happens to me about 50% of the time. And it is not the same ones either.

I posted here yesterday......and well,,,,a whole damn row of lights went out on me while crossing a bridge ( at 5:00 am ).....That's wierd....

Is your head shiny? Maybe it's reflecting light into the photocell.

:D

The streetlight phenomena is a case of selective attention. You remember the times that the light eerily goes off over your head, but you do not remember the thousands of other times when it didn't. Coincidence explains the rest, those lights flicker on and off due to stray light on the photocell or overheating of the elements.

My best friend and i have noticed this. I always said it was a coincidence, but had no proof. Now I can shut his mystic-crap believing ass up! Thank you TFP! ( Yes, I love to set him straight with a verbal bitch-slap.. All in good fun.)
Hehe

As Crow_Daw mentioned, Cecil Adams has covered this in http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4_047.html]The Straight Dope[/url]

<center>Can some people extinguish streetlamps by means of their bodily emanations?

28-Oct-1994</center>

Dear Cecil:

I hope you can help me with this one--most of my friends think I'm crazy. I am convinced my physical presence has the ability to make streetlights burn out. On an average night, walking through a parking lot, at least one or two street lights will go out when I approach, then regain their luminous state after I have passed. Could there be some sort of electrochemical imbalance in my body that causes this to happen? Am I surrounded by some strange magnetic field? This happens only with street lights, not with lights in my home or public buildings. Is there a scientific explanation, am I looney, or do I just pay too much attention to street lights? --Matthew Davis, San Jose, California; similarly from Neal Duncan, Washington, D.C.

Cecil replies:

Nothing personal, Matthew, but our default explanation for things like this is that you are looney. However, on investigation (we had little Ed bring it up on talk radio), we are wondering if there is more to this than meets the eye.

When the sodium vapor bulbs commonly used in streetlights start to go bad, they "cycle"--go on and off repeatedly. Cecil is having a hard time getting the Straight Dope Science Advisory Board to agree on what happens, but apparently the bulb overheats, goes out, cools down, then relights. If you're walking past when this happens and you're the neurotic type, you think it's your fault. This surely accounts for most of the reports we have gotten about this over the years.

But maybe not all. While making one of his periodic reports to the nation on the Mara Tapp show on WBEZ radio in Chicago, little Ed mentioned your letter, figuring he might get a few calls from, as he indelicately put it, "the looney tune quadrant of the listening audience." As usual he got no help from Mara Tapp, who thought he was making the whole thing up. Also as usual, though, the lines lit up with listeners saying the same thing had happened to them. One caller, saying there was a 12-step program for streetlight snuffers, pointedly told Mara it was common for people to be in denial about this. So there.

And then there was a call from Joe. Joe claimed that when he and a friend walked down a street in Chicago once, eight or nine of the dozen or so street lights they passed went out as they approached, then relit after they had gone by. While subsequent forays into the city have not been so unenlightening, Joe says he will sometimes put out two or three lights in the course of a stroll, although he cannot do so at will. Hmm, said little Ed.

We are not about to say we believe in bodily emanations. No doubt it is all just coincidence. Or maybe Joe is lying, crazy, or under the influence. (He sounded OK, but on the phone you can't tell if your source's eyes are dilated.)

But we never rule anything out, especially if we can get a column out of it. We checked with several electrical engineering types, who professed bafflement. Deficient hypotheses include:

• Joe is somehow triggering the photocell that causes streetlamps to switch on and off. But Chicago streetlamps don't have individual photocells. The photocell is in a master electrical box that controls 25 or 30 lights.
• Joe is causing the bulb to vibrate loose. Supposedly if you hit the pole in the right spot the luminaire (the part with the bulb) will whip back and forth so sharply that the bulb loses contact. But Joe says he doesn't hit the poles, periodically drop a box of anvils, or anything like that.

Seeing as how we're not making much progress, we are faced with several choices:

1. Give up in frustration. We'd sooner die.
2. Conduct six weeks of in-depth investigation. Right, like we get paid by the hour for this.
3. Fob the job off on the Teeming Millions. The very thing. We invite reports from persons who believe they douse more street lights than can be explained by mere happenstance. We are particularly interested in hearing from people who can do this at will, without the aid of wire cutters, slingshots, etc. Perhaps nothing will come of this. But you never know.

***THE DELIGHTFUL ONES: A REPORT***

Dear Cecil:

Here's what I've seen as far as the streetlights thing goes, where they go off as people approach, and come back on as they move away. Senior Week in '93 down at Ocean City, Maryland, my girlfriend and I were hanging out with another couple. This other couple had been having a rocky relationship over the preceding few months, but then about three days into the week they had some incredible love thing happen. Both later said that that was their most memorable time in their relationship. Anyhow, as the day wore into night we went to the boardwalk for a little fun, and as we walked down the boardwalk we noticed that the streetlights would flicker and go off as we approached, then flicker back on as we walked away. After a while the other couple separated and went off to do something. As I watched them walk away I noticed that a ratio of about eight out of ten streetlights would go out as they walked beneath and then come back on as they passed by. It had stopped happening to my girlfriend and me, so obviously it was the other couple who were causing this. They later mentioned that it continued all night.... Weird stuff, man. --Mutant, via the Internet

Dear Cecil:

While a student in Boston, I often experienced the streetlights shorting out as I passed under them (sometimes three and four in a row). This was witnessed on several occasions by friends. However, I am unable to make this happen at will. In my case, this phenomenon occurs when I go hyperactive. During this period, usually brought on by binge drinking or a full moon, I have no choice but to exist for long periods of time without eating or sleeping. This hyperactive state is when the lights go out, in more ways than one. --Michael Burns, also via the 'Net

Dear Cecil:

It used to happen to me, too. Then it began to happen less and less. I'm only 30. Too young for electropause. Then I read your column, and on Saturday night I get this whole bank of streetlights to come on. Not as a group, but one after the other just preceding my path down Ashland Avenue. --Lon Ellenberger, Chicago

Dear Cecil:

I have caused streetlights to go out in North America, Africa, the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Nepal, New Zealand ... --Anonymous

Dear Cecil:

... Chicago, New York, Athens (Georgia), upstate New York, and Arizona ... --Nina Keinberger, Chicago

Dear Cecil:

If I had a few in me it became clear I had some secret, but uncontrollable, power over the streetlight ... --Joe Wackerman, Washington, D.C.

Dear Cecil:

This is an example of what we in our lab call "the van is always at the corner" because one only notices the van when it is indeed parked at the corner, not the times when it is gone. How many lamps does one walk under that don't go out? You just notice those that do. --Josh Telser, Chicago

Cecil replies:

Much as I admire your steely logic, Josh, I'm never letting you sit around the campfire when I'm telling ghost stories. I'm charmed by the thought that powerful physio-emotional emanations may be behind HLS (human light switch) syndrome. Lest you think my mid-life crisis has put me completely off my nut, I realize it's a crock. But it's a fun crock.

Now, since my contract obliges me to insert at least one fact per column, this word from a top high pressure sodium engineer at General Electric: "It is a combination of coincidence and wishful thinking.... Cycling [on and off] occurs because the [lamp] ballast is only able to sustain an arc with a certain maximum voltage. As high pressure sodium lamps age, their voltage increases as sodium is lost by various chemical processes. [The lamp starts at a low voltage, which climbs to a steady-state value as the lamp warms up.] It is the steady-state voltage that slowly increases with burning hours due to sodium loss. Eventually, the ballast will only be able to start a cold lamp and warm it up to the dropout voltage." Then it goes out until the lamp is cool enough to restart. The GE guy preceded these comments with the note: "Here's one explanation. Space aliens is another." Hmph.

--CECIL ADAMS

Warrrreagl,
Did you ever stop to think that it may be static electricity in your body that effects the street light? We all have static electricity in our bodies, some more than others. When there is way too much, it causes spontaneous human combustion.

Spontaneous human combustion is a sham.. soz.. There's nothing in your body to cause a spark, or is it possible for the body to burn inside out seeing that it is 70% water or something.. :D And to have the light go out the electricity would have to leave the circuit that the light is on.. :)

K. I'm not sure if there was a post about this, because I am INCREDIBLY lazy, and I didn't read them all. I realize that maybee I should have, But oh well.
I have heard of this.. what you're experiencing. I've looked into it some... not a WHOLE lot... I just checked to make sure it wasn't a hoax.
But, anyway... there IS a condition like this. It's not because the lights get too hot and go off on their own or anthing so simple as that.
You are what is referred to as, among many other things, a "Shocker."
No, you don't have any sorta super powers... no you don't have ANY special abilities except this: Electric accesories and the like respond to you.
They don't jump out and say hi, they just sorta fritz when you get near.
People who have studied it have no idea what causes it... maybe it's too much of some chemical in your sytem... maybe it's powerful brain waves... hell.. maybe it's even an Alien conspiracy.
We just don't know.

I hope i cleared SOME things up.

And, again... if I just made myself look like a fool because somebody already posted something on this BEFORE i did and had a more reasonable explination, I am sorry.

-indy

Three words: Tin foil hats.

I've got mine on right now

that happened to me all the time near my old house. i found out if i sanfg this little light ofmine it would turn back on. i have no idea what causes it.
i only talk and post when i drink

I guarantee you that this has happened to me for about twenty years now. I first noticed it when I was in college, and as I walked under the campus street lights, they would each go out in turn, and then start working after I got out from under them. I told other people that I thought it was crazy that the lights went out whenever you walked under them, and they looked at me like I had 10 heads. Then, I knew that it was only happening to me. But, it is definitely an interesting and so far unexplained phenomena. And no, it's not delusions of reference, or some odd thing where I only notice when it goes out. It's not a coincidence when you walk under 12 lights, and each one of them goes out when you go under it. Now, as to why they go out, I'm not sure. One thing I learned in physics is that all bodies above absolute zero radiate electromagnetic waves across the spectrum. Now, I don't go for astrology and auras and all that garbage, but to me, this is the only thing that makes sense. Somehow, the detectors that think it is day are tricked when I walk under them. My best guess is that it is caused by some energy radiated from certain people. It's hard to imagine that this hasn't been documented and observed somewhere???

I've had it happen. Usually it happened the night before a big midterm or final. And I usually didn't do too well on that test.

Coincidence? Maybe. Have something to do with the fact that on the night before a big test I'm out walking the streets instead of studying? More likely.

WHEW! Thanks for the scientific explanation! There was this one streetlight that ALWAYS would go out as I drove by on the way home from my gf's house. It really got to me after a while. I figured there was some explanation for it, but it was only the one light! Of course it was at the apex of a curve in the road and I drove straight toward it, so this explanation above makes tons of sense.
What a relief. Plus, I can sound semi-smart whenever someone else mentions the same thing. Always a plus.

As far as being a 'shocker' is concerned...would that explain why the lightbulbs in my house never last as long as they should, and we seem to have more than the average number of problems with electrical appliances?

check out "star child" on the net. it might help

I think it is probably just your smell that is freaking out the light bulbs so they are trying to hide and once you pass they turn back on after the stench goes away.

Happens to me too. No use wondering about it though.

There are more important things to worry about.

Like, is it OK to yell MOVIE in a crowded Fire House? and the classic, Does the Pope REALLY s**t in the woods?

Answer these and all will become clear grasshopper.

I have this type of thing happen to me with street lights randomly and its always when Im stressed out or thinking to a point where im almost in a hypnotic state. My wife will testify in times of high stress I blow out our porch light every single time, I used to do it to the bedroom light but it seems if I do not touch it the lamp is fine. Another odd thing happened about 6 months ago we had the battery replaced on our saturn by the dealer also the battery posts which are side posts. Well these were brand new and I lifted the hood to check fluids before we went to the local theme park , the car was turned off and we had gotten into an argument about my wifes crazy mother, well as I was cussing up a storm in my head,the post made a loud electric zapping sound like a snap and the post blew clean off. I dont know if I caused it , I have actually been trying to figure this out for myself. I used to tell myself I was crazu but when others around you notice it you have to wonder.

I've had this happen too, but I've had a lot more lights not go out.

You see a light go out, you think, thats wierd, you see another you think, thats really wierd, you see 3 you are ready to think your mind is turning off lights.

If you went down the street and all the lights were going out, and this always happened, then you might be onto something.

wow im the opposite .. i can go near lights and they brighten.. like a small power surge.. ive been known to blow out bulbs.. they grow bright then pop.. i dont believe i do it personally yet my friends do. ive even ruined a puter monitor before like this.. yet static eletricity.. its strange and that is the part that brings goose bumps and tears to my eyes.. yeah when the freaky happens thats what i do..

in all my life i have never been popped by static eletricity. everybody.. everyone that has tried get nailed in a rebound i guess you would say.. stuff sticks to me i.e. clothes ballones and such like everyone else.. ive had about 23 near lightning strikes in my life one left me blind for several moments .. yet ive never been struck.. i tend to sit outside in a powerful thunderstorm when the sane would hide in shelters and wait for something to happen but it never does..

most the pics of me when i was little seem over exposed like there was a light around me. i never guess i thought of it much till i saw this thread..

keep in mind, that many streetlights use photosensative switches, i.e. at a certain lightness darkness they go on or off. That's why you don't see them on during the day. It could be that a certain series of them have the sensativity set wrong and your vehicle causes a change in the lighting. Also, car's produce emf's so if the controlling circuits arent shielded the emf from your car could be messing with them.

Street lights go out all the time when anyone passes by. Some people are more observant and notice. They go off because they overheat and then go back on because they have cooled off. The bulb or ballast needs replacing in some of those lights.

I, too, seem to set streetlights going haywire... Turning on when they were off, off when they were on. And, while I don't know why it happens, I wouldn't be so quick to judge that it's just some fluke. Both my mom and my aunt have always had electrical devices respond oddly to them much the same way they do to me... And man, you should see what happens when the three of us get together in a room. I'm not supposing that it's any kind of "mystical" reason or anything like that, but to say that we're just crazy for believing we affect electric devices is ridiculous since you can't point out an answer yourself.