Highway authorities could find it easier to improve night-time road safety following Department for Transport (DfT) Type Approval for a new active road stud that can be installed using the same methods as conventional cast iron road studs.
Highways technology provider Clearview Intelligence has secured approval for its new SolarLite S381, developed in partnership with Prismo Road Markings, enabling the solar-powered LED road stud to fit directly into standard cast iron road stud housings.
The approval means authorities can incorporate active road studs into routine resurfacing and road marking programmes without changing established installation practices or requiring additional civil engineering works.
The principal benefit is improved visibility for drivers. Unlike conventional retroreflective road studs, which rely on vehicle headlights to reflect light, the SolarLite S381 provides active illuminated guidance visible from up to 900 metres away. Conventional passive road studs are typically visible from around 90 metres in good conditions, with their performance reducing significantly in rain, fog and darkness.
According to Clearview, the additional visibility allows drivers to identify bends, junctions and other hazards much earlier, giving them more time to react and make safe driving decisions. The technology is intended to improve driver confidence and reduce the risk associated with night-time driving and adverse weather conditions.
Alastair King, head of SolarLite at Clearview Intelligence, said the approval represented an important step in making active road stud technology more accessible.
“The approval marks the arrival of the latest addition to the company’s long-established SolarLite range, combining its proven solar-powered active road stud technology with a heavy-duty cast iron housing.
“It complements our established products by bringing the technology to schemes where cast iron housed road studs are preferred or specified, while also providing a direct upgrade path from conventional passive retroreflective studs to active illuminated guidance.”
The new cast iron housing has been designed for more demanding environments, offering greater protection from heavy traffic loading and resistance to winter maintenance operations, including snow ploughs. The product remains entirely solar powered, requiring no mains electricity, and has an expected service life of between eight and 10 years.
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