Have you ever seen something glowing on the ground on the highway? Reflective road studs, also known as cat eyes or road signs, are small devices embedded in roadways that improve nighttime visibility and enhance driver safety. These inconspicuous devices play a vital role in guiding motorists, demarcating lanes and alerting drivers to changes in road layout.
Why should reflective road studs be installed on highways?
Enhance visibility
Reflective road studs are common on highways and are designed to help drivers stay in the correct lane and improve driver visibility in bad weather or darkness. Their reflective properties illuminate the road, delineate lanes and indicate road edges, making it easier for drivers to see lane markings, curves and potential hazards.
Danger warning
Another important reason for using reflective road studs on highways is to alert drivers of upcoming changes on the road, helping drivers spot any potential hazards before they reach them so they can adjust accordingly. For example, take a sharp turn. This is extremely important on high-speed road sections. If drivers notice changes in the road ahead in time, they may not have time to react, which may cause danger at very high speeds.
Highways are where vehicles travel the fastest. In the UK they have a speed limit of 70mph and have multiple lanes, creating challenges for drivers which are made easier by reflective road studs. It can help drivers detect changes in the road ahead in time and make corresponding adjustments.
Highway reflective road stud colors
After popularizing the function of reflective road studs, we will also find that there are various colors of reflective road studs on the highway. Are they different? Each color of reflective road studs has a different meaning and has a specific purpose. Understanding their differences is crucial for drivers.
White
Usually the most common, it is installed at the edge of each lane to show the boundaries of the driving lane. Used to mark lanes or road medians. They indicate the separation between lanes traveling in the same direction.
Red
They are usually installed on the left edge of the road or between opposing lanes, and they will remind you not to cross the line when you are in the left lane. They indicate the left edge of the road and help drivers stay within the road and avoid running onto the shoulder or hitting oncoming vehicles.
Amber or yellow
They serve a similar purpose to red reflective road studs. They are usually placed between opposing lanes or on the right edge of the road. They are used to indicate the separation between lanes traveling in opposite directions, reminding drivers that they should not cross the line.
Green
Green studs can be used to indicate special lanes, for example they many times indicate the start or end of a slip road, or a lane reserved for High Occupancy Vehicles (HOV) or near a toll plaza. These ensure that the driver recognizes the section of road he or she wants to drive.
In some cases, they can also show drivers when there are temporary changes to the road layout or when long-term road construction is taking place.
Blue
Have you seen blue reflective road studs? They are generally less common. Used to indicate the presence of emergency facilities, such as an emergency telephone or fire hydrant.
The use of these colors may vary slightly in some countries or jurisdictions. But they generally follow these conventions to maintain consistency and provide clear guidance to drivers.
Summarize
In today’s traffic safety layout, reflective road studs have become an indispensable element, and they have made a huge contribution to road safety. By improving road visibility and guiding drivers to drive safely, the occurrence of traffic accidents has been greatly reduced.
