@mercuryvaporrocks: Definitely it should appear like that, if you go there by foot or by car, or however, you have to always have illuminated area in front of you, but without any other action from yourself then going there (so no SMS, no push-buttons,...). But this does not mean, then lights should be permanently ON, when there is nobody to use them.
I guess such system would not be more expensive (in total) then the SMS link and definitely both the safety would be higher and electricity consumption lower.