Transportation solutions company Clearview Intelligence has installed SolarLite Active Road Studs along the La Neuve Rue at Albecq and Route de la Lague/ Route de Rocquaine at Fort Grey.
Clearview said it installed the road studs in response to driver concerns about navigating unlit, narrow coastal roads after dark.
The rural roads had previously offered little or predominately no delineation, but since completion, 84% of drivers described the night-time visibility of the roads’ layout as 'greatly improved', Clearview said.
Graham Muspratt, senior solutions manager at Clearview, said, ‘Previously these roads were unlit, offering ineffective or no delineation and were perceived as dangerous by drivers who had to navigate narrow, bendy coastal routes. Whilst there was not a high accident rate along these routes, the States of Guernsey recognised drivers’ feedback of the need for improved road safety measures and took proactive action.
‘Given the challenges and topography of the area, installing mains power lighting was not practical nor atheistic and traditional retro reflective studs would not have improved the short field of vision challenge. SolarLite studs proved to be the most cost effective and impactive solution for the customer and road users,’ explained Mr Muspratt.
Unlike traditional retro reflective studs, which are reliant upon a vehicle headlight beam to be seen up to 90 metres away, active road studs actively emit light through solar powered LEDs that are visible from up to 900 metres away. Clearview states that this offers improved delineation for all road users, including pedestrians and cyclists as well as drivers.
The active road studs have an operational lifespan of up to 10 years and the potential to last up to five times longer than reflective studs.
The use of sustainable solar power also eliminates the need for mains power and roadside equipment.
Following completion and monitoring of the initial trial project, States of Guernsey has commissioned a second phase of installations along additional routes across the island, which are due to be completed in 2019.
