This is why so many streetlights in America are turning purple
Published on Jun 07, 2025 at 1:21 AM (UTC+4)
by Jason Fan
Last updated on Jun 06, 2025 at 12:07 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
If you’ve driven through a neighbourhood and wondered what’s up with all the streetlights turning purple, you’re not alone.
Across the US, thousands of LED streetlights have mysteriously shifted from bright white to moody shades of violet, lavender, and deep plum.
While the glow has a certain futuristic charm, the cause isn’t part of a trendy urban design plan.
In fact, it’s all a big accident.
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The so-called purple streetlights are the result of a manufacturing defect in certain LED bulbs that were installed starting around 2017.
Over time, something inside the bulb breaks down, and the once-white lights turn an eerie purple.
Cities from Milwaukee to Palm Beach, and even parts of Canada and Ireland, have reported the glowing glitch.
At least 30 US states have spotted the phenomenon, and the lights have become something of an internet curiosity.
Some folks love the unexpected pop of color, and many spend nights chasing the glow for the perfect shot.
In Los Angeles, photographer Willem Verbeeck told USA Today that he roams the streets and scans for purple streetlights several times a week.
His favorite haunts? The Hollywood Hills and quiet stretches near the Port of Long Beach, where the purple lights are often left untouched a bit longer.
But not everyone is thrilled.
In Studio City, California, podcaster Evan Lovett admired the cyberpunk feel, until his home was broken into on a dimly lit street.
“I’m a fan of the color purple, but I don’t want my streetlights to be that way,” he said.
“It’s kind of dangerous.”
Despite online theories that the lights were designed to save energy, the truth is far less exciting.
It’s just a manufacturing flaw, and affected cities have been replacing the bulbs, though some are still waiting their turn.
So if you spot a purple-lit street on your next drive, take a moment to enjoy it.
This accidental art installation might not be there for long, just like this full-size Ferrari sculpture made out of ice.
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Jason Fan is an experienced content creator who graduated from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore with a degree in communications. He then relocated to Australia during a millennial mid-life crisis. A fan of luxury travel and high-performance machines, he politely thanks chatbots just in case the AI apocalypse ever arrives. Jason covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on technology, planes and luxury.
