Solar-powered LED road markers could light future roadways

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/21/solar-powered-led-road-markers-could-light-future-roadways/

Solar-powered LED road markers could light future roadways

Night-time travel is a necessary part of the busy world in which we live, but due to decreased visibility, traveling in the dark can be dangerous. The British have shed some light on night driving with the invention of the Astucia SolarLite flush road stud. The stud emits LED light, which is powered by small solar panels. The new stud tech is present on 120 British roads, and night-time accidents are down a dramatic 70% since the devices were installed. Amazingly, the SolarLite road stud gives drivers 900 meters of visibility, which increases reaction times to over 30 seconds. Reaction time with standard reflector studs is just 3.2 seconds.

With thousands of Americans dying on night roads every year, any incremental price vs. reflector studs would likely be a drop in the bucket when compared to the incredible savings in insurance claims alone. The government mandates billions of dollars in safety equipment on our cars and trucks, and both the automakers and customers foot the bill in the name of safety. If the SolarLite road stud is nearly as effective as it claims, the governments incorporating them could effectively reduce the likelihood that many automotive safety features would never need to be deployed.

[DAMANgoldberg]

1. from this OTR trucker...

anything to help the visibility of the road at night, with much night driving as we do, is a great thing. And in the 48 states, they would power themselves year round.

[philb]

2. How soon will relatively cost effective LEDs be available for homes, businesses?

they are starting to be available but at higher price than the mercury problematic compact fluoresents.

[thunder35]

3. will they work in the north?

[LiberalEsto]

5. Great Britain is pretty far north

as far north as Canada. New York City is at about the same latitude as Rome.

[RC]

7. He is asking about snow and snow plows and salt and other big heavy

scraping things that are hard on pavement and curbs in the winter.

[CRF450]

8. OH YES!!! Bring'em here please!

I know of some turns around that you cant hardly see at all at night because of oncoming traffic, and the road line paint wearing off.

[Nihil]

14. They seem to survive in the UK

I used to regularly drive along one of the test stretches when I was in
a previous job and they were a noticeable improvement on the ordinary
cats-eyes that most UK roads use.

They certainly lasted through two winters complete with snow, ice, salt
and whatever but I rarely drive that way any more so I can't guarantee
they are still going.

[OKIsItJustMe]

9. Probably not

They did some experimenting with the purely reflective ones in upstate NY. They were ruggedized for the plows. Yeah... well...

Fortunately, we're not getting as much snow nowadays. In a few years, plows shouldn't be an issue...

[OKIsItJustMe]

10. Make that maybe

http://www.lightguardsystems.com/html/signal.html

Snowplow Resistant Model (EnduroLight™)
Snowplow Resistant Model The LightGuard System snowplow resistant in-roadway warning signal (EnduroLight™) is designed specifically for applications in areas where snow removal equipment is used. This design can be expected to withstand normal wear from standard snow removal equipment blades as recommended by snow removal equipment manufacturers. The signal is made using high-strength impact resistant metal alloy, and is designed to be self-clearing and debris free. The circular design allows for snowplow blade impact resistance from any direction . It is mounted onto a metal baseplate approximately 1 inch deep into the roadway and extends approximately 0.5 inches above the roadway surface. The design also allows for easy signal head access, and replacement if necessary.

[Rageneau]

4. Swear to goodness, last week I asked myself, "Hey, why don't we put lights in the road lines?"

Another idea I lost a zillion on just because somebody else had the idea first and did something with it.

[soothsayer]

6. Well, Bott's dots are a good start, but this is pretty cool (as long as they're not so

bright that they're disorienting, like driving in some video game)

[Islander Expat]

11. Why not just lower the speed limit and use reflective markers?

why make it so complicated and expensive?

[NickB79]

12. Well, the roads will be pretty empty 20 years from now

So thankfully we won't need too many of these lights.

[Islander Expat]

13. The cyclists will love the hell out of em' and...

they'll keep the horses from wandering into the ditches.