Traditional road studs are here to stay, 3M says

Technology company 3M has responded to reports that traditional road studs are set to be replaced by solar powered lights.

This comes after government ministers announced a consultation on amending the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (TSRGD) legislation to include the use of LED lights without reflective strips.

However, Ash Dasani, a senior technical and regulatory engineer at 3M, says that the regulations are simply being broadened.

“What has been reported is nothing new. Solar powered lights are already available and are being used on our roads,” he said.

“These talks are about bringing the regulations up-to-date – but that does not mean traditional road studs are going to become redundant.”

The biggest difference between the two products is their categorisation. Traditional road studs are classed as passive and reflect light from vehicles back to the driver, whereas solar powered lights are categorised as active, emitting light.

Passive road studs are cost-efficient – an important consideration when local authorities are facing increasingly tighter budgets – and offer high levels of durability. They are well suited for most road conditions, in particular accident blackspots where there may be limited light sources.