Road safety has always been a top concern for transportation departments around the world. Especially at night and in some bad weather, road safety accidents are easy to occur in places with poor air visibility. Everyone is also looking for ways to reduce accidents.
In today’s era of innovative development, advancements in road stud technology play a vital role in ensuring safe and efficient travel. Reflective road spikes and solar road spikes are two popular options for increasing visibility and delineating lanes, crosswalks, and other road features.
So, how to choose between the two types of road studs? This is an important decision for transport authorities and planners. They can all improve road visibility and can greatly improve road safety. But at the same time, they also have their own advantages and disadvantages. How to make the right choice? Let’s take a deeper look at their differences.
Reflective road studs
Working principle: Reflective road studs, also called retroreflective road studs, improve visibility by reflecting ambient light (referring to the light emitted by the vehicle’s headlights reflecting back to the driver’s eyes). Increase driver awareness and reduce accident risk. They typically consist of reflective material encased in a durable shell, often made of plastic or ceramic.
Cost-Effectiveness: They are generally less expensive than solar road studs, making them a cost-effective option for road marking applications.
Low Maintenance: Reflective road spikes have no moving parts or electronics, require minimal maintenance, and have a long lifespan.
Convenience: Reflective road studs require no external power source or batteries and rely solely on ambient light for visibility.
Limitations: They are highly dependent on outside light, and factors such as weather or road debris may affect their effectiveness.
Solar Road Studs
How it works: Solar spikes are active devices equipped with photovoltaic cells that absorb sunlight during the day and convert it into electricity. This energy is stored in an onboard battery or capacitor and used to power LEDs or other lighting elements embedded in the studs. This approach ensures autonomous lighting, providing continuous visibility in low-light conditions.
Active Lighting: Solar spikes actively illuminate, providing continuous visibility regardless of ambient lighting conditions.
Convenience: By harnessing solar energy, they provide a sustainable and renewable source of electricity, reducing reliance on grid power.
Enhanced Visibility: Without the need to rely on ambient light, visibility can be enhanced on the roadside where no cars are passing, making it more convenient for pedestrians and improving pedestrian safety.
Low maintenance costs: Although the initial cost of solar road spikes is higher, they can also save money in the long run. Their self-sustaining energy and durable design keep maintenance needs to a minimum. making it a long-term option for transportation infrastructure.
Limitations: Occasional maintenance is required to ensure proper operation of photovoltaic cells and batteries.
How to choose
You can consider the following factors to choose reflective road studs or solar road studs
- Installation location: Consider the lighting conditions of the location you want to install. If the ambient light is sufficient, then low-cost reflective road studs are your best choice. Solar road spikes are more suitable for low light or dark night environments.
- People flow: Consider the visibility needs of the area, such as traffic volume, pedestrian flow, etc. If there are many pedestrians in the area, it is recommended to choose solar road spikes, which can actively provide lighting and make it more convenient for pedestrians.
- Budget: Solar spikes may require a higher initial investment but can provide long-term energy savings and enhancements. And reflective spikes are more cost-effective upfront.
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