Astucia Traffic Safety Systems from over in the U.K. have developed the next step beyond the reflective lane markers we’re all familiar with, solar powered lane markers. These work like other solar powered lights that seem to be popping up everywhere, a solar cell charges a battery during daylight hours and they turn on automatically at night.
They have 2 solar models, the SolarLite™ F Series marker light is flush mounted into the road, protruding just 3.5mm above the road surface, so motorcycles and even bicycles will not have any problems. A nickel metal hydride battery can fully charge in 3 hours on a sunny day and gives 240 working hours in return.
Because they are self lighting instead of requiring reflection from your headlight, the tremendously increased viewing distance increases available reaction time from 3.2 to over 30 seconds at 60 mph! Studies show reflective markers have a maximum viewing distance of 90 meters, the SolarLite can be seen, under the best conditions, from as far away as 900 meters! Projected life before replacement is 8 to 10 years.
We’ve all been on roads at night without lighting where some odd or unexpected turns seem to jump out at the last second, these lights would be extremely helpful. Clearly marking off ramps and any other less visible road divisions would help in low light or rainy conditions, too. The lens is available in amber, red, white, green and blue so side markers and center markers or other different lanes are clearly identified.
Don’t you think the dramatically increased viewing distance and reaction time these markers make possible would be really nice in a lot of situations? I like these a lot.
Jeff says
These would be great in foggy conditions .
Walt says
I love the idea of lighted lane markings. I wonder how wide these units are. They appear shiny and might pose a slip hazard for a bike in wet conditions.
Adam says
I wonder what applications they have for northern climates. In other words, how will they fare against snow plows?
chris says
this is the coolest thing i have seen all month. desperately hope these catch on in the U.S. Soon.
palegreenhorse says
i wish these already were installed! there are some downsides…the slip… but the visibility of turns is a super upside.
coho says
I can’t imagine that the slip factor of a 3.5mm light is any greater danger than a 35mm Bott’s Dot made invisible by road goo.
These should be on every road everywhere.
forester7 says
I’d rather have some device that reduces, not increases, my reaction time!
kneeslider says
increases “available” reaction time
Corrected – Thanks
5valve says
We have these things already in the Netherlands. The are installed for about two years in a road between Oss and Schayk (NB)…..And not slippery
jp says
I drive for a living (18 wheeler), and a lot of it is at night. These things would be amazing…a must have in my book.
OTTO MANN says
IM ALL FOR IT.
jjay says
We have these nn an experimental basis in some parts of the UK, one of which is just round the corner from me. They are very effective but are only fitted to the perimeter of the road, so you never have to drive over them.
Grant S says
We have these on trial in New Zealand, They add another dimension to night Riding & driving!
Grant S says
Also if you have an issue with traction what the hell are you doing on the middle of the road! If your cutting the corner that finely stay of the road and go to the track!!!
Richard says
I think it’s a great idea. In my area of the planet, we have lots of twisty 2 lane roads with steep drop-offs on either side. Night riding would be much safer with these lighted markers.
sfan says
Unfortunately, in my part of the plant, event simple reflectors are absent far too often. Dread those rainy night rides.
I wonder if LEDs would attract the curiosity of wildlife (especially of concern things bigger than bugs). Hopefully not.
villainy says
I’m not sure what everyone is talking about with the *added* slip. Current lane markers are pretty damned slippery already, they’ll be significantly easier to avoid if you can see them from further away. As Grant said, “what the hell are you doing on the middle of the road”?
Blair says
Ah the humble LED, they’re getting very popular now aren’t they? I’ve had LED night lights on the push bike for years and they’re fantastic for letting cars know you’re there. Cheap on batteries too.
And now you can get LED headlights as an option on the Audi R8 supercar I believe. Bring it on.
Alex says
These things are all over Japan and so fu**** disturbing, they give me a hard time to actually figure out my lane.
Oh, and it’s great, when you have undererstimated a curve, need to go a little more inside and your frontwheel hits one of these on rainy condition.
Back home in Germany, we do not even have lights on the highways, but Japan has 2.5 times the amount of traffic accidents.
hoyt says
Good idea, but does there have to be so many? (see above photo)
A reduced number of lights would be cheaper and less likely to cause “slip” as mentioned above.
What would be the right number of lights? It would have to be studied at various speeds and various road conditions (different number of turns and various radii) to avoid optical illusions.
chris says
It can’t be any worse than hitting a rumble strip which are conspicuously planted within the center line and the emergency lane. There’s nothing like getting a flat tire, and then inavertently running over a rumble strip. Until you do that, running over little lights are not going to be a problem.
Erik says
These would be very handy on some of the heavy thule fog nights up in the east bay. I’ve been out riding in fog so thick you literally could not see the road at your feet. Very scary conditions since other drivers can’t see you either.
I hope the firmly plant these things because someone will figure out that they have value and will start stealing them.