Motorways are characterised by high speeds (60–120 kilometres per hour), heavy traffic volumes, and extended journey distances. During night-time or low-visibility conditions (rain, fog), lane boundaries become obscured, significantly increasing the risk of lane departures, rear-end collisions, and crossovers over central reservations – posing severe threats to driving safety.
As an ‘active lane identifier’ for motorways, reflective road studs resolve the poor visibility issues inherent in traditional road marking paint. They provide drivers with continuous, clear visual guidance, assisting in maintaining lane position and substantially reducing accident risks. They constitute an indispensable component of the motorway safety system.
This document addresses motorway management authorities, road construction entities, engineering procurement teams, and traffic safety consultants. By analysing product value, application scenarios, and selection criteria, it offers specialised guidance for motorway-specific requirements, supporting informed decisions on safety infrastructure upgrades.
(1) Extended Visibility Range
High-speed driving necessitates earlier lane guidance. Specialised reflective studs for motorways offer visibility ranging from 300 to 500 metres, substantially exceeding the 100 to 200 metres achievable with standard urban studs. This provides drivers with ample reaction time, preventing accidents caused by insufficient time to adjust direction.
(2) Enhanced glare resistance
Standard studs readily cause glare from oncoming headlights, inducing driver fatigue or temporary blindness. Specialised studs feature optimised reflector angles to significantly reduce glare impact, ensuring clear driver visibility.
(1) High Load-bearing Capacity
Frequent heavy goods vehicle traffic on motorways demands studs capable of withstanding loads ≥100 kilonewtons without cracking or deformation under repeated rolling. Standard studs, rated ≤50 kilonewtons, are prone to failure on motorways.
(2) Superior Weather Resistance
Specialised studs feature UV-resistant coatings that prevent material degradation from prolonged exposure to sunlight. They withstand extreme temperatures ranging from -40°C to 80°C, adapting to diverse climatic conditions along motorways (e.g., severe northern winters and southern heatwaves).
Specialised studs strictly adhere to international and national motorway specifications, including European EN 1463-1, US FHWA, and Chinese GB/T 24725. They meet stringent requirements for reflective efficiency, structural strength, and service life in high-speed environments. Ordinary studs often fail to meet these standards, posing potential safety hazards.
(1) Microprism Reflective Studs
Advantages: Reflective efficiency 3-5 times that of glass beads, ensuring visibility even in dense fog or low-light conditions; service life of 7-10 years with low maintenance costs.
Applications: High-risk accident zones requiring enhanced visual guidance, such as main carriageways, extended downhill gradients, and mountainous highway bends.
(2) High-Refractive-Index Glass Bead Reflective Studs
Advantages: Cost-effective with stable reflective performance, suitable for large-scale deployment; service life of 5-8 years, meeting basic requirements for standard motorway sections.
Applications: Motorway auxiliary lanes, service area access roads, and sections with moderate traffic volumes.
(1) Lane Marking Reflective Studs
Function: Delineate adjacent lane boundaries to prevent lane departure; installed at 5-8 metre intervals along lane markings to form continuous guidance.
Design Features: Employ dual-colour reflective design (e.g., white for right-hand lane boundaries, yellow for left-hand boundaries) to aid drivers in rapidly distinguishing lane directions.
(2) Central Reservation Reflective Studs
Function: Prevents vehicles from crossing the reservation into oncoming lanes. Installed every 4-6 metres along the reservation.
Design Features: Bidirectional reflectivity – red on the oncoming lane side (warning approaching traffic), white on the same-lane side (guiding vehicles), ensuring safety in both directions.
(3) Emergency Lane Reflective Studs
Function: Define emergency lane boundaries to ensure rapid passage for emergency vehicles while deterring non-emergency vehicles from occupying the lane.
Design Features: Full-body red reflectivity (high warning level), with raised anti-slip edges on the top to prevent skidding when emergency vehicles pull over.
(1) Continuous Visual Guidance
The ‘light band’ formed along the lane enables drivers to clearly discern lane direction and prevent lane departures, even when road markings are obscured by rain at night.
(2) Reduced Accident Rates
Traffic safety data indicates that motorways equipped with reflective studs experience a 35%-50% reduction in night-time lane departure accidents, significantly enhancing driving safety.
(1) Reducing Driver Hesitation
Clear lane markings boost driver confidence at high speeds, eliminating frequent deceleration or steering adjustments due to unclear lane boundaries, thereby ensuring smooth traffic flow.
(2) Ensuring Safe Overtaking
Reflective studs in overtaking zones enable drivers to accurately gauge lane spacing, reducing collision risks from misjudged lane changes and improving overtaking efficiency.
(1) Low Maintenance Costs
Reflective studs have a lifespan of 5-10 years, significantly outlasting road marking paint (1-2 years). This reduces labour and time costs associated with frequent replacements while avoiding traffic disruption during roadworks.
(2) Zero-Energy Operation
Unlike solar-powered studs requiring battery replacement or charging, these operate solely via vehicle headlight reflection. Long-term use incurs no additional energy expenditure, lowering operational costs.
(1) Superior Waterproofing and Dust Resistance
Featuring IP68 waterproofing, they withstand heavy rainfall and road flooding without internal component damage. Sealed construction prevents dust ingress into reflective layers, maintaining performance.
(2) Anti-icing Design
Specialised studs feature a hydrophobic coating on their surface, preventing ice formation in winter. This avoids reduced visibility caused by ice coverage, ensuring winter safety on motorways in frigid regions.
(1) Pre-installation Preparation
Road surface cleaning: Remove oil, dust, and loose stones to ensure a flat, dry surface.
Precise Positioning: Mark installation locations using positioning tools, controlling spacing errors within ±5 centimetres to ensure continuous and uniform ‘light bands’.
(2) Installation Method
Secure studs to the road surface using high-strength epoxy adhesive (bond strength ≥2 MPa). Allow 24 hours for curing after bonding. Only reopen traffic once strength requirements are met to prevent stud displacement.
(3) Post-Installation Inspection
Height Verification: Studs shall protrude 5–10 millimetres above the road surface (to prevent submersion by standing water).
Reflectivity Testing: Assess reflectivity using simulated vehicle headlights. Replace any studs exhibiting poor reflectivity or loose installation promptly.
(1) Routine Inspections
Schedule patrol vehicle checks every 1-2 weeks, focusing on damaged, missing, or silt-covered studs. Monthly high-pressure water jet cleaning ensures reflective surfaces remain unobstructed.
(2) Scheduled Replacement
Microprism studs: Replace every 7-10 years;
Glass bead studs: Replace every 5-8 years;
Reflective material efficiency diminishes over time even without visible damage; timely replacement is essential to maintain visibility.
(3) Post-Extreme Weather Maintenance
Following extreme weather events such as heavy rain, snowstorms, or typhoons, conduct comprehensive inspections of studs along the entire route:
Repair studs loosened by floodwater;
Clear accumulated snow and ice from stud surfaces to restore reflective functionality.
(1) Background
A mountainous motorway with numerous bends and frequent fog experienced high rates of lane departure accidents at night, with an annual accident rate twice that of flatland motorways.
(2) Solution
Microprism-type central reservation studs and lane-marking studs were installed at 4-metre intervals on bends and 8-metre intervals on straight sections to enhance visual guidance.
(3) Outcomes
Within one year of implementation, night-time accidents on this section decreased by 48%. Driver surveys revealed that 92% of respondents stated: ‘Even in dense fog, lane boundaries remain clearly visible, enhancing driving confidence.’
(1) Background
A 200-kilometre motorway mainline suffered from severely faded road marking paint due to prolonged use, causing night-time lane recognition difficulties that impaired traffic efficiency and safety.
(2) Solution
Replaced conventional studs with high-refractive-index glass microsphere studs, while installing dedicated red studs on the hard shoulder to clearly define lane functions.
(3) Outcomes
Night-time overtaking accidents decreased by 32%, emergency vehicle response times shortened by 15% (with 90% reduction in non-emergency vehicles occupying hard shoulders), and overall traffic efficiency improved by 20%.
High-risk sections (bends, long downhill gradients): Prioritise microprism studs (high visibility, extended lifespan);
Standard main carriageway sections: Choose high refractive index glass bead studs (cost-effective, suitable for large-scale deployment);
Emergency lanes / central reservations: Employ red reflective studs to enhance warning effects.
Regions with intense heat and sunlight: Select studs with dual-layer UV-resistant coatings to prevent material degradation;
Regions with severe cold and heavy snowfall: Use studs with anti-icing hydrophobic coatings to ensure winter visibility;
Regions with frequent rain and fog: Prioritise microprism studs (strong fog penetration capability) meeting IP68 waterproof standards.
Confirm compliance: Require products to provide EN 1463-1, FHWA, or GB/T 24725 certification documentation to avoid non-standard products;
Review test reports: Request reflectivity efficiency reports (visible distance ≥300 metres) and load-bearing test reports (≥100 kilonewtons) to ensure performance meets standards.
Highway-specific reflective road studs address the challenges of low night-time visibility and high accident rates in high-speed environments through high visibility, robust durability, and strict standard compliance. They represent a long-term solution balancing safety and cost-effectiveness.
Future Development Trends
Intelligent Upgrades: Embedding sensors to detect vehicle speed and traffic density, transmitting real-time alerts to management centres;
Material Innovation: Developing self-cleaning reflective materials to reduce manual maintenance;
Environmental Upgrades: Utilising biodegradable adhesives to minimise impact on road surfaces and the environment.
Action Recommendations
Should you require motorway safety enhancement projects, bulk procurement of reflective studs, or bespoke studs for extreme climates (e.g., high-cold resistance, strong UV resistance), our specialist team stands ready to assist. We supply internationally certified products with a five-year warranty, complemented by on-site installation guidance and lifelong technical support. Together, we will help you build a safer, more efficient motorway traffic system.
