TURN OFFT the lights and save on the electric bill! That’s what my parents told their six kids to do. Frank Lloyd Wright, the great American architect, said, “There is nothing more uncommon than common sense.” Rhode Island desperately needs to stymie a financial crisis that is hemorrhaging vitally needed tax dollars. Turning off lights on state and federal highways in the state is a simple way to redirect resources urgently needed to plug a $357.4 million budget hole.

Gov. Bruce Sundlun ordered the highway lights turned off in a cost-saving measure during the fiscal crisis of the early ’90s. Since all motor vehicles come equipped with robust headlight illumination, this was an immediate, specific and realizable action that yielded desired results. If this action were taken today, the electric bill would be just the start of the savings. Taxpayers could also save on the maintenance and replacement costs of the electrical systems. This adds up to several millions, which may seem like a small amount when compared to the hundreds of millions Rhode Island needs. But the old adage, “Watch the pennies and the pounds take care of themselves,” figures in here.

Consider that most highway signs are not lit by any electrical source, but rather illuminated by headlights reflecting off aluminum signs with reflective sheeting. Furthermore, no other New England states light their highways to the extent that Rhode Island does.

This can be observed while traveling north on Interstate Route 95. The highway lights disappear upon leaving Rhode Island and entering Massachusetts. Over the years, other states have replaced overhead lighting with good stripping programs and passive reflective technology, which is much less costly, and in many ways more efficient than overhead lighting. Anyone who has navigated through a fog or heavy rain has experienced the luminous smog effect of overhead lighting, as opposed to the experience with reflective striping and roadside markings, which more clearly and effectively lead motorists safely along the way.

Rhode Island’s leaders should build upon former Governor Sundlun’s action by having the lights turned off while simultaneously directing the Rhode Island Department of Transportation to permanently replace overhead lighting with 21st Century passive reflective technology. State workers and subcontractors should be redirected to focus on applying reflective striping instead of changing 250-to-400-watt high-pressure sodium lights and replacing knocked-down light poles, which are hazardous objects. Precious resources could be freed up to help prevent catastrophic events resulting from such deteriorated, aging infrastructure.

Hard-pressed U.S. cities and towns could follow suit and save money by reducing lighting in certain neighborhoods that do not need or want the night illuminated. Just think of the potential trickle-down effect if New England and then the rest of the nation followed suit. Savings on energy, maintenance and replacement costs would be astonishing. Millions could be redirected to actively alleviate more pressing public concerns.

Reducing the taxpayer burden while saving energy is not rocket science. It’s about getting back to basics, using modern technology to promote safe travel and more thoughtful, active use of precious resources. If Rhode Island were managed the way my parents, with high-school educations, managed their half-dozen children, all of whom went on to graduate from college, we will survive the malaise of these financially devastating times. My parents proved that a dose of common sense is a great cure. Let’s get better!

Karen Salvatore is the founder of DOT Watch and served as its executive director in 1990-1998.