Washington State testing Astucia SolarLite road studs

This weekend, 451 Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) maintenance crews plan to install 1875 Astucia SolarLite solar-powered road studs as part of a test project on the centerline of a stretch of SR 530 which has a history of run-off-the-road collisions. Depending on the results of the tests and available funding, WSDOT says it will consider investing in additional test areas on other roadway surfaces or situations.

The solar-powered LED road reflectors, from UK-headquartered Astucia, part of the 557 Clearview Traffic Group, automatically illuminate from dusk to dawn to provide ten times greater visibility for drivers than traditional retro-reflective studs which are limited by the vehicle’s headlight beam.

“We often hear from drivers who are concerned about visibility in rain and snow,” said Dave McCormick, WSDOT assistant regional administrator for maintenance and operations. “We’re excited to test this cutting-edge technology to see whether it helps improve visibility and safety for drivers. If we get good results, we will look into using the reflectors on future safety projects.”