In the modern transportation system, highways and feeder roads serve as important links between cities and regions, and the scientific configuration and effective maintenance of their traffic safety facilities are crucial. Among them, reflective studs as a low-key but indispensable road elements, so that this seemingly insignificant markings in the safe guidance of drivers on the road plays a vital role, but have you ever thought about what color they are?
This article will delve into the color choices of reflective studs on highways and bypass roads and the logic behind them, revealing how these seemingly ordinary “small nails” can pass through the power of color.
What are reflective studs?
Reflective Studs, also known as raised road markings, road studs or cat’s eyes, are traffic safety devices installed in the middle of road markings or double yellow lines. They are arranged at regular intervals and, by virtue of their retro-reflective properties, emit strong and eye-catching reflections when illuminated by vehicle lights, providing drivers with a clear indication of lane boundaries.
Especially in poor visibility or nighttime driving conditions, they significantly enhance road visibility, help drivers accurately judge their driving path and avoid deviating from the lane, thus reducing the incidence of traffic accidents. They come in a variety of colors, each of which serves a specific purpose and conveys important information to the driver.
Color of reflective studs
What color are these reflective studs between the highway and the chute?
1.White reflective stud
In most cases, these studs are white. Their pure, bright hue creates visual unity and continuity with the white markings commonly found on highways, reinforcing the sense of continuity on the road.
White reflective studs are obvious even at night or in visibility conditions, making them an effective choice for marking these critical areas of the roadway. In addition, the color white symbolizes warning and attention in the internationally accepted traffic safety color spectrum, further enhancing their warning effect.
2.Yellow reflective stud
Compared to highways, feeder roads often have more complex and changing road conditions, such as curves, intersections, school areas and other special locations. At this time, the yellow reflective stud has become the ideal choice for feeder roads because of its unique visual impact and warning effect. Yellow represents warning and caution in the safety color scheme, and can attract the driver’s attention at the first time.
Especially when the field of vision is limited or blurred, the yellow reflective stud is like a series of eye-catching warning beacons, reminding the driver that there may be potential dangers ahead, and that they need to slow down or be ready to turn in advance.
Why did highway reflective studs choose white and yellow?
Application of color psychology and visual physiology.
Physiologically, white has the highest luminance value and provides the best contrast at night for quick recognition by drivers, while yellow, due to its longer wavelength, has a greater ability to penetrate fog, haze and other bad weather, and is easier to draw visual attention to in dark environments.
In addition, the choice of the color of the reflective studs is not accidental, but is deeply rooted in the scientific basis of color psychology and visual physiology. Studies have shown that white and yellow have high visual sensitivity under low-light conditions and can quickly activate the cone and rod cells of the retina, triggering a strong visual response.
Reflective studs on highways and bypass roads build an invisible safety barrier with their simple white and eye-catching yellow colors. They are not only the artistic expression of road design, but also the crystallization of the wisdom of traffic engineering science and human factors engineering.
Each reflective studs, whether on the straight highway to guide the traffic to move steadily, or in the winding branch road to warn the potential risks, are silently performing the responsibility of lighting up the darkness and guarding the life. Let us enjoy the convenience of travel at the same time, to these silent guardians pay tribute to, but also always remember, abide by traffic rules, respect for road facilities, is the most direct commitment of every driver to their own safety and the safety of others.