Street Light Interference

Some people claim to have a psychic ability where an electromagnetic disturbance from their subconscious somehow causes nearby street lights to temporarily turn off. This phenomenon is called Street Light Interference (SLI) and people with this ability are called SLIders. So far, there have been no scientifically valid studies of the phenomenon but there are plenty of anecdotal reports of it occurring. In 1993, Hilary Evans of the Association for the Scientific Study of Anomalous Phenomena documented the experiences of 77 SLIders and, since then, many people have posted details of their own experiences on SLI websites.

SLI affects both males and females of all ages and from all walks of life. In most cases the phenomenon is intermittent although it is more likely to occur when the SLIder is in a stressed or emotional state. SLI is usually generated by the subconscious mind and cannot be brought on by consciously trying to turn a street light off. SLIders are often people who have no particular interest in the paranormal and think they are alone in having this ability or are unwilling to tell others because they have been ridiculed in the past. They are often relieved to find that others share their ability.

A SLIder is usually within 20 metres of the street light when SLI occurs, sometimes directly underneath and sometimes further away. Additionally, SLI doesn't happen to all street lights, it seems that some are more susceptible than others. It is unknown why street lights are affected so much. SLIders do not report that they have any great affinity for street lights and it is thought that street lights are must be very susceptible to this sort of psychic interference. Some, but not all, SLIders have also reported having effects on electrical appliances, battery powered watches and household lights.

Of course, as with any unexplained phenomenon, there are many skeptics who refuse to entertain the idea that the phenomenon is real. Alternative explanations have been offered; the street lights are designed to cycle off and on or do so towards the end of their life or that light sensitive sensors on the street lights are triggered by approaching cars. These may explain some coincidental occurrences of street lights turning off but experts do not believe that this is common enough to explain all reports of SLI. Until the SLI phenomenon is scientifically studied it will remain unexplained and in the meantime SLI websites will continue to receive reports from SLIders.

Comments (19)

... written by brenda phillips on July 25, 2006 I didn't know about SLI till yesterday when I was telling my son's roommate about the year that TVs popped on everywhere I went. He told me about his chronic experience with street lights popping off. This morning I woke up and found a power utility truck parked beneath the street light near the house where I am staying--my son and his roommate were here yesterday! This made me think about the two streetlights near my home, which are constantly out. I'm no skeptic--this electromagnetic phenomenon definitely exists and seems to respond to psychic energy from deep thinkers. street lights written by regina watson on August 18, 2006 I have had this happen since i was a kid. I have never told anyone but friends i run around with a lot notice it. I also have problems with lights blowing out in my house. It is so nice to know this happens to others and i am not crazy. gina ... written by chelina on September 1, 2006 i'm so glad i found this site! thia started happening to me about 3 yrs that i can remember and it would bug the heck out of me when the lights on my street would go out when i drove by because i lived on a curvy road in the hills. i've since moved and recently my friends have noticed. there are places in town where whole streets go out. it seems to happen more frequently towards the end of my day. i'm glad to find i'm not the only one this happens to Me Too!! written by Jessie on September 3, 2006 I can't even explain how weird it is reading all of this. I thought that I was either crazy or just a freak. It's nice to know that this is well-known with others. I turn street lights out constantly, which can be really scary when it's night time and I'm walking alone. I also shock anything I touch...my boyfriend says that everytime he kisses me, it's like a send a lightning bolt through him!! What a crazy phenomenon...I wish I knew ever more about it.... Wow written by Chris on September 18, 2006 So I am not alone. Also my life is so full of foreshadowing it scares me. It happened to me tonight - VERY STRANGE written by Steve on October 4, 2006 I just got back from a walking my dog through the neighborhood. I must have walked under about 20 or 30 street lights. Exactly four of them went out as we got very close or directly under them. As I looked back, they started to re-light. None of the other lights I saw in the distance were turning off. It absolutely could not have been a coincidence. It was not random. It was not due to cars' passing by or any other light source tripping the photo cells. These four lights went off when we walked near. It has happened in the past, but not to this extent. It was so strange I had to research it on the net, and happened across this site. Very informative. I REALLY want to know what causes it. This happened in Gladstone, Missouri on 10/3/06 at 10:00. I am a SLIder written by Gabe on October 7, 2006 My dad is SLIder. I noticed my dad walk down the street and point and they blow. This is not a fake thing it's very real. I'm 15 and I reak me friends out all the time with it. I'm proud to be a slider. Me too written by dkto on October 10, 2006 I have noticed this throughout my life-just now I drove on the highway for about 40 minutes and I counted 8 lights that turned off as I approached them or drove under them. Weird! WoW! written by Laine on October 26, 2006 I can't remember exactly when this started happening to me. I do remember walking the dog in our neighborhood and this one street light would go out when I neared. I thought it must be faulty. But then I noticed that as I drove they would randomly go out. I didn't really think much of it until it started happening fairly regularly. Tonight on the way home from my son's birthday dinner with 8 people in the car it happened and I mentioned it. We were all talking about it and of course they were joking as well. We stopped at one of the boys homes and then headed to our home and it happened again...needless to say they were freaked out! I decided to try and look it up on the internet and was amazed to find this info. light bulbs too written by Laine on October 26, 2006 And I also wondered why lights in my house would blow when I turned them on. I began to think it was faulty wiring or that this one particular lamp was defective. It only happens to me in my family. This explains a lot! I DONT FEEL LIKE A WEIRDO NOW written by ROSE on November 28, 2006 I CAN RELATE TO JESSIE, I HAVE HAD LIKE 7 LIGHTS GO IN AN HOUR..NOT A COINCIDENCE I THINK! AND I AM ALSO VERY ELECTRIC..I SHOCK AND GET SKOCKED BY EVERYTHING I TOUCH. ACTUALLY WHAT MADE ME LOOK FOR THIS SITE WAS THE FACT THAT 10 MIN. AGO I TOUCHED THE COFFEMAKER, AND I SKOCKED IT. NOW IT WONT TURN ON..I THINK I BROKE IT Another perspective written by Olga on December 30, 2006 I'm fascinated to see that there are other people that have experienced the same phenomenon as me.I don't like walking by myself on the streets at night, because as I walk, the street lights go out one by one until I find myself in darkness.they eventually light up, but only after I'm a certain distance from them.This has happened regardless of the time it is.I also have a problem with watches, they have the nasty habit of speeding too much if I'm nervous or slowing down several hours when I'm relaxed, and that is if I'm lucky enough to see them work.I've given up on them.Anyway, here is my theory on why street lamps go out: we are probably radiating some kind of energy ( or luminescence that our eyes can't register)and the street light sensors pick up as daylight so they turn off. CD player written by b on February 12, 2007 the reason i looked for explanation is because 30 min ago i was driving down the street playing my CD really loud and it started turning down on its own it. Street lights would go on and off at least 10 times a day. It's freaking me out!!! More than just streetlights written by Rainyday Superstar on February 16, 2007 Streetlights going out when I am near is such a common occurrence I don't even take notice anymore until it is pointed out by another. Other thing tho, I do notice. I haven't been able to wear a watch EVER. Not one that keeps time anyway. Flashlights have never lasted more than 2 or 3 minutes in my hand. Magnets fall off the fridge when I walk by. Lamps burn out. Microwaves seem to get a sudden power surge and cellphones will not stay charged for more than 30 minutes. Also, I don't know if this could be related but I have been struck by lightning. Not just once but 2 times. I have no control over these things. They happen daily and as pointed out here, if stressed or upset, it gets worse. Clap On Clap Off written by Kyriel on February 18, 2007 Unbelievable. I really had no idea this was a common incident. It's always been a joke in my family. I have incredibly bad luck with new appliances and items. Microwaves that stop working. Replacement microwave that never started working right from day one. Long lasting bulbs that last for a week or two. Bulbs that pop when I turn them on. Or just dim and brighten, dim and brighten. Watches that stop working. It's always been a joke that every watch I own breaks. So I haven't worn a watch for most of my life, until recently when I bought a vintage wind-up (which so far has been giving me No trouble). Even where I work, the wall clock (which is electrical) slows down every day about five minutes. I have to climb up and remove it from the wall to fix the time. Strangely enough, I was in the process of writing a request for a new clock, and since that day, it's never slowed again. Other incidences. The street light thing. Ever since I can remember. Probably since I was about 10 or 12, coming home late from the neighbourhood swimming pool. Always the same light, flickering as I neared it, turning off as a walked under it... turning on again as I was about half a block away. Years later, I mentioned it to a friend as I was driving by the neighbourhood, and in front of our eyes, the light turned off. And turned back on as we drove away. When I go for walks/runs, it happens so often, it becomes a joke. Like that old commercial for elderly people using the "clap on clap off" light switch. I told a new boyfriend of this weird "skill" and as he opening scoffed at me, I clapped my hands and lights started turning off on our walk along the water. He was stunned, and definitely wondering what sort of witch he was hooking up with. My furnace, a brand new one that I had placed in my house, has every single year since I got it stopped working. Every year I've had to replace this little sensing device. Not a part to wear out. Today the furnace was out for several hours before I noticed the temperature getting colder. It kept trying to ignite, but kept failing. Only when I opened the furnace and (okay, I know it sounds crazy) and concentrated on the ignition sensor... and I mean looked at it and really focused on it, in addition to praying (yes, I am spiritual) it finally turned on again. This has happened regularly throughout the winter. I don't mean to imply that I have powers to fix it, but it's one of those weird things I just can't explain. Computers... I no longer have to rely on floppies, but I can't tell you how many incidents have happened where there is a corrupted file or error reading them. Thank goodness for emailing files. Volume on the television. Too many other things to mention. I don't know if there is any connection, but glass items shatter in my home on a regular basis. Pictures falling off walls and goblets breaking (right in from of my eyes). And NO I don't believe in ghosts. Though I do respect that there are things in the world and science that we just can't understand. My poor boyfriend thinks it's his grandmother sending messages. *sigh* Poor guy. I noticed he's moved pictures to safter locations so they won't fall on us as we sleep or walk under doorways. ... written by Kyriel on February 18, 2007 Darn, forgot to add. My brand new washing machine was not working properly right from the beginning. It took five repair visits from five different guys to determine that they had no clue what was wrong with it. They replaced the motor and adjusted every item that could be adjusted or changed. Finally, after half a year of this, I just got them to give me a new machine. Card problems??? written by CYBORG on February 27, 2007 I also turn off lights, but it's weird when I look out my window at a near by rec center some of the lot lights go out and my house is about 200 yards away or so does anyone else have this long rang effect? Also, I keep de-magenetizing the strips on all of my ATM and credit cards...anybody else with this problem? insane written by Yogip on March 11, 2007 You guys are insane, there is no such thing it's all in your head nothing exists outside the mind, very much like the widespread belief in gravity. Wow! I'm not alone written by Christine on March 11, 2007 I just found out tonight that there is a name for what has been happening to me for years. I turn off lights on the streets and it seems that lights blow out in my house alot. Also, everytime I get out of my car or touch someone I have electricity, or you could say I shock them or myself. I thought it was strange so I never said anything to anyone till now. One of my science study group girls had mentioned it and I got goose bumps. My hair stood straight up. Wow I said to her that happens to me all of the time. I never told anyone because I thought I was alone, and people would think I was weird. Now I can look at the lights going out on streets when I drive by or under them in a different way. I'm so glad she mentioned this light thing. It has happened also, when I walk under lights too. It was freaky to me, kindof scary, but now I'm not so scared, or freaked out.

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 I can't believe it has happened to others. Today I happened to hear someone on TV saying that it is called kinetic energy and that it makes street lights go out when some people walk under. Well, it has happened so often to me and never heard it mention it from anybody else that I thought it was mere coincidence or that I happened to walk right at the time the lights got a break. I also experience a lot of electricity shocks when opening building doors. So much that I always touch the door before touching the knob because it will 99% of the times shock me. Interesting... Because I am not superstitious.

Elsie, June 21, 2006 4:28

 I have had street lights go off on me for years now. I always thought it was just a trigger switch that happened to go off as I approached it. But as I have studied this phenomena more often, it seems that the same lights and even others have gone off when I pass them. And it doesn't only have to be by car; I have them go off on me when I walk by them too! I also experience house lights dimming real real low when I am having deep conversations with someone. It's almost as if my deep thinking creates electrical impulses which causes the lights to nearly dim out completely. I also have sensitive hearing and can easily sense when a TV screen or monitor is on from many feet away. There's definitely something happening here and I'm not sure what but I'd really like to understand this phenomena so I can put everything into logical terms.

Anthony, June 21, 2006 9:12

 This happens to me almost on a daily basis. But the street lamps don't always turn off, sometimes they turn on too. I use to joke that it was god winking at me, but it is really starting to creep me out.

Jeff, June 13, 2006 12:02

 Hi,I also have STI and am also able to make lights change on command and on and off and also quite often turn off the electric entrance doors at the walmart store ect.I am involved with magic and God and his son though and am fighting the NWO and am aware of other things as well.

Lord Craig Goldsberry, June 7, 2006 11:53

 As I drive at night street lights go off just as I am about to drive under them. This happens 8 - 12 times a week. Way too often to be just a coincidence. Also as I am exiting my vehicle I nearly always receive a shock as I touch the car door to close it. And when I am walking around the house I frequently am able to shock family members simply by touching them as they walk by me.

James T, May 5, 2006 8:30

 Always happens to me whenever I walk by certain street lights, they always go off ... never even thought other people have actually experienced the same thing... Now this is even more interesting and I would love to know what REALLY causes it. Till then I'm going to tell people I have brain powers I didn't even know of :)

Sabrina, April 25, 2006 10:03

 This is so crazy there is actually a name a website and futher details about this experience that I have been having for about 6 months now. As Im on my way to work at night some not all streetlights just start cutting off i didnt think nothing of it at first. I thought I was just trippin but it just started happen to often for me to be trippin. I really knew something was up when I came home one night and The lights on the outer wall of the apartment complex that I live in just turned off as I approached it. This is weird it really gets you thinking.

Tirrell, April 23, 2006 10:09

 ive had this happen to me a countless number of times. often it is when both me and my boyfriend are in my car. but it has happend to both of us seperately as well.

vivian, February 25, 2006 11:01