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Energy saving needs are becoming ever more important in the global management strategies of roads. Current data on an annual basis of the costs for electrical energy indicate constant and significant increases. These cost increases and the growing concern about environmental protection have provided the incentive for companies that manage roads to identify the best solutions to reduce their consumption of electricity. For National primary and secondary roads, such as freeways and arterials, the lighting systems of tunnels generally require more electricity than any other part of the network of roads. The lighting systems are an essential element in ensuring safe driving, so the two competing concerns must be considered together in order to reduce the consumption of electricity and ensure safe driving conditions. The work presented in this article was developed within the Italian Technical Committee of the World Road Association on Strategic Theme 4 - Infrastructure for the specific topic "Balancing of environmental and engineering aspects in management of road networks".