Highlighting Safety For Pedestrians
Road studs are small devices that are embedded in the road surface to mark the lanes, edges, or curves of the road. They are also known as cat's eyes, reflectors, or road markers. Road studs can be either passive or active. Passive road studs rely on the headlights of the vehicles to reflect light back to the drivers, while active road studs have their own light source, such as LEDs or solar cells. Active road studs are also called flashing road studs because they can flash in different patterns or colors to convey different messages to the drivers.
Flashing road studs are important for several reasons. First, they can enhance the visibility of the road at night or in bad weather conditions, such as fog, rain, or snow. Flashing road studs can provide more contrast and brightness than passive road studs, which can help drivers see the road clearly and avoid accidents. Second, they can improve the traffic flow and safety by indicating the optimal speed, direction, or lane for the drivers. Flashing road studs can flash in sync with the traffic signals, change colors according to the traffic density, or warn drivers of potential hazards ahead, such as sharp bends, junctions, or crossings. Third, they can reduce the environmental impact and maintenance cost of the road infrastructure. Flashing road studs can use renewable energy sources, such as solar power or kinetic energy from the vehicles, to generate light. This can save electricity and reduce carbon emissions. Flashing road studs can also last longer and require less frequent replacement than passive road studs.
In conclusion, flashing road studs are important devices that can improve the visibility, traffic flow, safety, and sustainability of the road network. They are a smart and innovative solution that can benefit both drivers and road authorities.
Carlow County Council have taken this innovative approach and directed Civic Group to install intelligent flashing road studs at zebra crossings in Carlow Town. These flashing studs are activated when a pedestrian is detected at the kerbside preparing to safely cross the road. For more information on this system, please contact our team at info@civic.ie.