Why are street lights turning purple? News 40 investigates

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – No, it’s not for Halloween and it’s not to reduce light pollution, the purple street lights are actually a manufacturing error.

People have come up with some crazy theories about the strangely colored lighting.

From people saying it makes those who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 glow in the dark to a theory that purple light is better for the environment.

While the theories are endless and quite creative, the story is much less exciting than warding off vampires.

White LED light is made up of all of the colors in the rainbow, when one color is removed, such as green, it leaves red and blue light which mix and make purple.

Bowling Green Municipal Utilities’ Christy Twyman says she’s not exactly sure what caused the manufacturing error.

“They either have a chip that has gone bad in them or it’s a film on top of the lamp that’s controlling the color temperature that comes out and so they appear purple. And there’s all kinds of stories about why they’re out there. Some high schools really like them. Some people really like them for Halloween. The timing of it has been pretty good. But, they do look not right,” said Twyman.

BGMU believes they have about 160 of the malfunctioning bulbs and are slowly in the process of returning and replacing them, but until then, enjoy the fun colored lights!