Solar Powered Road Studs

 
Solar powered road studs are small flashing devices which are used for marking turning points, the centre of the road as well as the sides. The solar powered version of these road studs take energy from the sun in order to power their LED lights which gleam largely at night when their sensors pick up the absence of natural external light.

The major thing that is drawing investment towards these road studs is that they offer a better window of reaction since these LED lights and can be seen about 2 kilometers off when compared with standard reflective devices which do not emit any light and need to be shone on in order to fulfill their purpose. With these road studs there can be a much longer interval for the driver to decide where to turn etc while normal reflective road studs give the driver shorter interval.
 

Manufacturing

These solar studs are made by various companies largely out of plastics and polycarbonates which are cheaper compared to other materials. Since they have to be placed on roads in large numbers they aren’t many expensive versions out there. They can last years without needing any maintenance unless they get clogged with dirt in which case they stop operating. Just like solar roads on the whole there is some speculation about how appropriate this feature is since roads can only be kept clean to a certain degree.
 

Pros

• The LED lights save energy so the stored power actually lasts longer. The road studs derive power from any kind of light even headlights so they are in a state of constant charge. They improve the reaction time of drivers thus limiting accidents and road hazards.

• In problematic weather conditions such as when there are thunderstorms, rain and fog, the old fashioned retroreflectors actually fail and are very difficult to see. These road studs with their flashing lights guide the way and improve visibility and lessen the chances of collision with other cars.

• The entire system is entirely automatic as a photoswitch automatically turns off the LED light when the sun is blaring so that energy can be conserved. They may not supply vast amounts of electric power but function very well powering themselves for use.
 

Increasing Usage

They encompass considerable cost upon installation which is why they have been installed in a total number of only 120 locations in the United States. The benefits have been seen for cyclists and bike drivers as well as they seldom enter the wrong lane or cross the white line on roads when these road studs are active. Since statistics exist of about 8 road accidents per day in the UK alone (most of which are happening at night) it is hoped that advances like solar road studs are going to help lessen that average.
In the long run they might balance out the cost by increasing road safety and several years longer than retroreflective studs.