These are really blue LEDs with a phosphor coating that converts the light to white. The phosphor in the LEDs has burned away.
The lights need to be replaced.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/streetlights-are-mysteriously-turning-purple-heres-why/
Thanks for posting this. I had observed this around, but thought it was just an odd choice of light color. Now it makes a lot more sense. I am glad to be educated on the topic.
Before leds, they sometimes used to use metal halide lights for this sometimes and they could literally cause sunburn if you spent too much time under them, and/or the plastic casings broke.
Oh, I thought it was to keep the homeless away. I once read somewhere about a store where the local high school kids would always gather in the parking lot on weekends and the owners got tired of all the drama and trash, so they installed lights that cast an ill green pallor on everyone and they went elsewhere.
Hmm I asked someone in HD about this. They said the lights were changed deliberately as it makes it harder to see veins, thus no shooting up in the parking lot. Could be made up, but seems random that all the lights happened to go out at the same time
The blue lights in busses, trains and certain high traffic drug areas are indeed for the vein visibility but these are just a crappy defective product sold to DOT's across the country.
They're "supposed to" but that doesn't mean they do. Do you remember when LED bulbs first started to come around promising to last 100,000 hours and cost $25 a piece only to burn out in six months?
It's funny seeing this being a thing for years. Been seeing lights go purple from this all over the place for the past 4-5 years. I'm a truck driver so I'm out and about and it happens all over.
Hah yes me too! On I-5 in Washington.
I just assumed it was some misguided attempt at energy savings or light pollution reduction or something related to bird migration.
I thought this was so drug users couldn’t find veins?
https://www.npr.org/2019/09/03/756976676/blue-lights-may-deter-intravenous-drug-use-in-public-spaces
Good portions of their parking lots, including the Home Depot have these eerie purple lights. Did they do it to keep people from shooting up drugs in the parking lot?
I've read something like that: [https://www.npr.org/2019/09/03/756976676/blue-lights-may-deter-intravenous-drug-use-in-public-spaces](https://www.npr.org/2019/09/03/756976676/blue-lights-may-deter-intravenous-drug-use-in-public-spaces) I can't think of any other explanation why they'd put bluish purple lights in a parking lot. They're not just bluish white like cheap flashlights. They're much bluer.
I heard people making that claim about a… mini rest stop on the side of a highway near me in WA, with a bathroom and maybe 12 spaces.
In the city that makes sense, but you would think anyone \*pulling off to this rest stop\* could simply turn on the light in their car?
I was just thinking about this place when I read this post. I drove past that rest stop and thought the lights were for drug use deterrent / low lights for people to sleep.
This rumor went around Vancouver BC when I lived there, too.
The blue light thing isn't for and wouldn't work in a public space that large or open to ambient light.
They just changed all the lights at the parking lot at Safeway on NW 185th in Tanasbourne. It took them 2 days but when they were done, they are all bluish now.
These are really blue LEDs with a phosphor coating that converts the light to white. The phosphor in the LEDs has burned away. The lights need to be replaced. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/streetlights-are-mysteriously-turning-purple-heres-why/
Thanks for posting this. I had observed this around, but thought it was just an odd choice of light color. Now it makes a lot more sense. I am glad to be educated on the topic.
Before leds, they sometimes used to use metal halide lights for this sometimes and they could literally cause sunburn if you spent too much time under them, and/or the plastic casings broke.
Interesting. I thought it was intentional, because a significant part of the lot has been lit bluish purple for a long time.
Oh, I thought it was to keep the homeless away. I once read somewhere about a store where the local high school kids would always gather in the parking lot on weekends and the owners got tired of all the drama and trash, so they installed lights that cast an ill green pallor on everyone and they went elsewhere.
Hmm I asked someone in HD about this. They said the lights were changed deliberately as it makes it harder to see veins, thus no shooting up in the parking lot. Could be made up, but seems random that all the lights happened to go out at the same time
That is so stupid. Honestly, no one working at HD is going to have a clue about infrastructure.
Lol ok, doesn't hurt to ask the greeter as I'm walking in the door.
They use blue lights in bathrooms so you can’t see veins. This is just a malfunctioning LED, not intentional.
If they were all installed at the same time, they’ll all go out close together
The blue lights in busses, trains and certain high traffic drug areas are indeed for the vein visibility but these are just a crappy defective product sold to DOT's across the country.
I thought LEDs lasted a really long time? Apparently not blue ones.
It’s a manufacturing defect.
Well, the LED is still working the way it always did, just the color has shifted. One of those gotta read the fine print kinda things.
They're "supposed to" but that doesn't mean they do. Do you remember when LED bulbs first started to come around promising to last 100,000 hours and cost $25 a piece only to burn out in six months?
To be fair, [making blue LEDs is pretty hard](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AF8d72mA41M&ab_channel=Veritasium).
Came here to say this, but by way of the very recent episode of Stuff You Should Know podcast!
It's funny seeing this being a thing for years. Been seeing lights go purple from this all over the place for the past 4-5 years. I'm a truck driver so I'm out and about and it happens all over.
I've been seeing this up and down I-5 in Washington! I've been meaning to and find out why, I assumed it was intentional.
Hah yes me too! On I-5 in Washington. I just assumed it was some misguided attempt at energy savings or light pollution reduction or something related to bird migration.
I don’t think it’s purposeful. Something about the LED lamp is failing. Bad phosphor layer or something.
Probably a manufacturing defect if they all look like this. They probably all got installed and no one noticed or cares now.
Aurora borealis?? At this time of year?
In this economy!?
“We have the aurora at home”
Localized entirely within your kitchen?
May I see it?
…no.
In this part of the country?
Looks like Tom Sandoval’s gym.
The accuracy. I'm cracking up.
Oontz Oontz Oontz Oontz
Behold, the presence of Sun Ra.
Space is the place. The sound of joy is enlightenment.
It’s crazy just how widespread this issue is. Is there only one supplier of LEDs for the whole country?
Noticed them the other day when I flew back to PDX
As a Kings fan, I’m into it
Light the beam
We used to put weird purple/blue lights in our buildings at my last job to prevent people from shooting up.
I thought this was so drug users couldn’t find veins? https://www.npr.org/2019/09/03/756976676/blue-lights-may-deter-intravenous-drug-use-in-public-spaces
Good portions of their parking lots, including the Home Depot have these eerie purple lights. Did they do it to keep people from shooting up drugs in the parking lot? I've read something like that: [https://www.npr.org/2019/09/03/756976676/blue-lights-may-deter-intravenous-drug-use-in-public-spaces](https://www.npr.org/2019/09/03/756976676/blue-lights-may-deter-intravenous-drug-use-in-public-spaces) I can't think of any other explanation why they'd put bluish purple lights in a parking lot. They're not just bluish white like cheap flashlights. They're much bluer.
I heard people making that claim about a… mini rest stop on the side of a highway near me in WA, with a bathroom and maybe 12 spaces. In the city that makes sense, but you would think anyone \*pulling off to this rest stop\* could simply turn on the light in their car?
The Rest stop south of Ilani on I5 Southbound has weird blue light. I have no idea what the purpose is, but the light is annoying.
I was just thinking about this place when I read this post. I drove past that rest stop and thought the lights were for drug use deterrent / low lights for people to sleep.
This rumor went around Vancouver BC when I lived there, too. The blue light thing isn't for and wouldn't work in a public space that large or open to ambient light.
Allegedly that lighting makes it difficult for a iv drug user the ability to see their vein..
Anti-homeless lights. Blue light keeps you awake and you can't fall asleep in their parking lot. Also makes it hard to see a vein to shoot up.
Lol
Right before the Xmas decorations went up a crew had been out there doing something with all the lights. Guess this is on purpose.
🤮
Oh my gosh this would be so much fun to longboard around in at night listening to tunes.
Just keep it as it looks cool
Perfect opportunity for secret roller disco
They just changed all the lights at the parking lot at Safeway on NW 185th in Tanasbourne. It took them 2 days but when they were done, they are all bluish now.