According to the city, the night-time switching off of the streetlights will be carried out for an indefinite period of time. And there is something else to consider: "If a streetlight is equipped with a 'streetlight ring', according to the Road Traffic Act, motorists must switch on their parking lights when parking their vehicle in this area within built-up areas," says the City's announcement. Motorbikes, mopeds, e-bikes, bicycles and single-axle trailers must also be appropriately illuminated and recognisable when parked on the street. The obligation does not apply on footpaths and cycle paths.

According to the city, switching off the lights at night should reduce electricity consumption by 50 per cent. At the beginning of November, residents in the main street in Königswinter's old town already got a taste of how dark it gets when the streetlights go out. Due to a technical problem, the streets were dark for several days in a row.

The lights will remain on at night at pedestrian crossings, in pedestrian subways, at dangerous street intersections and junctions, at the bus stations in Oberpleis and Ittenbach and at the transfer stops to the city railway line 66.

At www.koenigswinter.de/de/energie-sparen/, in the section "Switching off street lighting to save energy", all areas that will continue to be lit at night are listed.