Everything to do with the roads seems to be getting the ‘smart’ treatment of late – smart motorways, smart cars. Now cats eyes are the latest part of the road network to get the smart treatment with the introduction of smart cat’s eyes, which are being tested in collision hotspots to try and cut down on the number of accidents.
Intelligent cat’s eyes
The new intelligent cat’s eyes will light up in response to changing traffic lights and make major roundabouts look more like airport runways. It is the first time they are being considered for use in this way and are aimed at improving road safety, according to Highways England.
Some 170 of them are being used on Switch Island in Merseyside where the M57, M58 and three A roads all come together, as part of a £3 million project to improve the area. These new ‘road studs’ will be used to help 90,000 motorists manage the confusion of roundabouts. Cables will be laid beneath the road surface to connect the studs to the traffic lights via an automatic controller unit.
Cats eyes in action
When the traffic light turns green, the LED lights will be used to separate the lanes for the flow of traffic. This helps stop drivers crossing the white lines as they manage their way around the multiple exit roundabout.
The provider of the system, Clearview Intelligence, says that the studs are visible around 1,000 metres away and have already proven to reduce accidents in locations around the country where they are being used. In fact, collisions at some of the junctions have been reduced by up to 50%, the company said.
The system is already in use in Hindhead Tunnel, in Surrey, to help guide drivers through the tunnel. The A2-A20 junction in Kent along with the A41 in the Wirral and the Sheriffhall roundabout in Edinburgh have also been fitted with them, to help improve safety. Highways England are aiming for improved journeys and better safety for drivers with the new systems.
Runway roads
The idea of creating runway style roads is part of the government’s program of congestion relief which is due to start this month and has £220 million in funding. It is expected to take around 12 months to complete, in the Merseyside site, and vastly improve the situation – with 49 accidents in the last two years, it averages one every fortnight.
New traffic lights will also be installed to work with the smart road studs, set at a higher location so HGV and bus drivers can see them easier.
Cats eyes or road studs?
You may also notice another change taking place – cats eyes have undergone a rebranding and are now being called road studs. The reason for this is twofold, both quite amusing for drivers. Firstly, tourists are confused by the term and don’t understand warning signs such as ‘warning cat’s eyes removed’ when driving around the UK.
The other reason is that children were worried as they thought they were real cat’s eyes being embedded in the roads – hands up if you remember thinking that when you were a kid?
Most of us probably did because cats eyes have been around that long. The first ones were made back in 1933 by a man called Percy Shaw. He was driving along a West Yorkshire road and saw his lights reflected in the eyes of a cat walking alongside the road. He instantly realised their potential for road safety and came up with the device we are all familiar with. Cats eyes have been noted as one of the top 10 most iconic designs that the UK has ever created!
So, cat’s eyes are being renamed as road studs and smart road studs to help tourists feel more at ease on UK roads, and to stop children having sleepless nights over the mistreated cats! However, for most of us, they will remain cat’s eyes, no matter how smart they become.
What do you think about the new cats eyes? Do you think they will help?
Never thought that about cats for a moment. Always knew they were studs in the road. And this is in the late 1940s onwards.
Should we believe any of this is correct when the article refers to the A41 in Edinburgh !
This relates to a major roundabout on the A720 City Bypass in Edinburgh. The new lighting system is extremely effective in highlighting the correct lane procedure in dark conditions.
As this ‘smart’ new system will only be visible when it’s dark, could someone please explain how will it reduce accidents during the daytime?
Hi Stuart, thanks for pointing this out, we’ve updated this and it should now read correctly. Sorry for any confusion.
Smart pot hole fillers would be better! Oh I forgot there’s no money?
Well said, Len. Isn’t it funny that money can be found to do things like this.
Anything that can improve the chaos called Switch Island is worth it. Was originally going to be a flyover junction but with delays this was cancelled. Really needs a motorway style junction.
To be honest I’d take fewer deaths on the road over fewer potholes, but maybe that’s just me
Drivers trying to dodge potholes have been known to cause accidents.!
Councils find the money to lay speed humps, but would be better using it to fill the holes?? Seems like madness to me as the humps only slow down the responsible drivers anyway.
CEV
The councils reply is the pot holes act as speed bumps.
This enables the money to be used to feed the poor e.g. Christmas parties at council offices.
Pointless, I first read about this a few days ago through the British Motorcycle Federation.
I understand people get into the wrong lane sometimes, strangers in an area they are not familiar with for example, but most times if drivers/riders are looking ahead and taking notice of road signs, lane markings and traffic lights ahead I think the money being spent on this could be better spent mending the road surface PROPERLY instead of the lash up that is being done which only lasts until the next winter!
While I agree that the money could be spent in a better way I would also add the if the trees and shrubbery around road signs where kept trimmed we could also see the road signs!
Where’s the smart traffic lights, there is a brand new set near me that even at 3 am. with no traffic on the road it changes to red. and I have to stop. What about the smart pedestrian crossings that don’t change to red when there’s no one waiting to cross.
I think the idea is to have all the lights turn red so that when an approaching car is detected that route can be turned green very quickly. Theoretically with light traffic everybody gets a green light by the time they reach the stop line, and speeding cars get a red light long enough to slow them down. Of course if the car isn’t detected because the sensor is mis-directed or for some other reason then the plan fails.
Smart this, smart that. What would help here is more smart drivers.
These smart lights mentioned by Con Mann are laughingly called PUFFIN crossings (Pedestrian User Friendly) or something similar. The idea was that if the pedestrian crossed before the red phase, they don’t go red to traffic, similarly if a pedestrian takes longer to cross, then the traffic is supposed to be held on red longer.
Personally, I’ve never seen them work like that!
For years road studs have deflected the front wheels of cyclists causing crashes and injury. Their shape is different from cats eyes which are less dangerous. This is a commercial outfit trying to ignore the safety issues, and dumbass councils easily persuaded by the latest tricks.
So children think real cat’s eye’s used! This is due to the LACK of good education covering everyday life. I have noticed a distict lack of understanding of younger drivers over the years, most think they have a right to join the motorway when pushing in etc. Cat’s Eye’s have been in existance for many years so why change if not broken just educate people to drive correctly. As long as you can follow a sat nav though!!! What ever happened to good instruction with good road sense.
The UKs roads are busier than they have ever been. Considerably busier than just ten years ago.
The driving test for cars is also much more complicated than it used to be, including having to pass a theory test. Whether somebody can pass six GCSEs or not is irrelevant to being able to drive. As far as I know, the education system in this country has no relevance whatsoever to driving, pedestrian safety yes, dirving no.
You give the impression of being an elderly driver, forgive me if I am wrong. In my experience of driving for the last 41 years I have always considered the elderly to be the most dangerous drivers of all. They cannot cope with other traffic around them, they cannot drive fast enough for the speed of the roads they are on, they are clueless on roundabouts, they don’t understand how to indicate and so on and so on.
When you reach the age of 70 you have to reapply for a licence every three years. All you have to do is certify yourself that you are OK to drive. You don’t even need a doctor/GP to state that you seem alright to drive. A colleague of mine has a grandfather who has been diagnosed with dementia and is 74 years old. On a dementia test he identified a picture of a tractor as a cow. A hospital said he shouldn’t drive any more but his GP signed that he was alright. He continues to drive.
My grandfather was still driving at 81 (many years ago). He was driving down a very quiet 50 mph dual carriageway one day and slammed on his brakes. He lost control and a vehicle behind him collided with his car. There was no reason at all why he should have braked and he was actually held liable for the accident. That’s very unusual for a rear end collision. His insurance company insisted that a doctor should certify he was able to drive. Thankfully his doctor said no.
“most think they have a right to join the motorway when pushing in etc” What do you mean by this? Pushing in? Do you mean that when they join a busy very slow moving motorway, they “push in”? If you have any road sense at all then you should let joining traffic merge. Yes, they do “have a right to join” or do you think that joining traffic should be disallowed and queue back for miles?
Regarding complicated roundabouts, which are everywhere these days, if you have never been through a particular one before then it can be very difficult to make sure that you are in the right lane. As an example you can approach a roundabout with four lanes which are very badly signed. The road markings are invisible because cars are on them. It’s a hit and hopefully miss if you have to change lanes when on the roundabout. People who know the roundabout can be very unforgiving if you need to change lane, sound their horns etc. At this point, road rage is justifiable and you should use appropriate hand signals, just kidding!
On the A70 out of Edinburgh there’s a section of illuminated cat’s eyes in the middle of the road (white) and to the off side (red) with green showing junctions. I find them quite useful although I’m not sure they’ll last very long, quite a few have failed in the last ?5 years. They appear to be solar powered, which reduces the amount of wiring but took several days to implant, so I had to take an alternative route to work via an ice and snow covered road. A farmer kindly pulled me back out.
In last weeks papers there were calculations about the amount of time that driver’s attention is distracted by in car equipment, roadside ‘attractions’ and assorted signs etc on the highway. Whilst this system is intended to be helpful it will be something else to look at-and how long will it be before legislation appears on the Statute Book making it an offence to be in the ‘wrong’ lane on a roundabout. As for driver discipline will it make the slightest difference to those idiots who undertake, overtake, cut up & ignore traffic lights at junctions- I doubt it.
I agree, overtaking shouldn’t be allowed. /s
The existing white lines are often invisible (dirty), especially at night or in rain, so yes I think this is a good idea. BTW I never had a problem with the name cats eyes.
What’s country coming too >>>changing the name of cat’s eyes>>> How many children over years since they were introduced have been mentally affected adults ? As for tourist, worried by signs saying ” cats eyes removed” well I drive alot and I can’t remember seeing that sign ! Think you should more concerned about drivers who don’t know how to use their indicators on roundabouts, roundabouts are road junctions with a circle, so once on them indicate left when turning off them and not signal right when turning left. How many times have you come to a roundabout, sat there only to find cars not signalling and turning off left, if they had, you could have moved out.
I hope drivers continue not to signal right when turning left – that would be most confusing, they should of course signal left correctly.
Three points;
The post should be named ‘Smart Road Studs’ as already explained in the article.
Would it be better to spend the money on fixing pot holes
When we have self drive cars will these be needed anyway? They would simply be an expensive short term fix
Why don’t they seem to use these in other EU countries? Time they did, they are SO useful for driving safety….
Excellent idea, they won’t wear out like the paint does, and be far easier to see at night.
I have heard that meat balls are going to be renamed as they are being confused with a certain part of a male human body.
This country is getting more and more like a nanny state.
Meat spheres,?? James
Cev
That wouldn’t surprise me.
Oh , hot dogs have to be renamed too. LOL
And what about spotted dick??
Congestion relief? That’s a joke. Someone ought to suggest that to local authorities who seem determined to CREATE congestion with badly timed/totally uneccessary traffic lights. I know a local town near here where the traffic always flows much better when a particular set of lights aren’t working.
I think that a lot of traffic lights could simply be removed, ESPECIALLY from round-a-bouts. Mind you, that would result in an awful lot of drivers having to take some extra driving lessons to learn how round-a-bouts are supposed to work. Let’s not forget that they were introduced to keep traffic flowing, which is the exact opposite of traffic lights. Is there a round-a-bout anywhere that needs lights working 24hrs a day?
And as for re-naming cats eyes road studs, don’t start me.
Switch Island is a complete mess. It has been resdesigned a number of times and each time it becomes more unusable. Here two motorways come to an end the only way to access one from the other is via a roundabout (Switch Island). If this wasnt bad enough the main Ormskirk to Liverpool Road also has to cross the same roundabout.
If approaching Switch Island on the M57 and wish to go to Ormskirk or on the M58 you may need to cross 4 lanes of traffic in under 2/3rds of a mile. If you miss this ( and many do as it is poorly signed) – you will be destined to go round Switch Island and add to the confusion and congestion.
All this could have been avoided by having a direct link between the two motorways and a flyover for the Ormskirk to Liverpool Road. The idea that road studs ( smart or otherwise) might solve the problem of this dreadful planning and design is fairly ridiculous.
“The idea of creating runway style roads is part of the government’s program of congestion relief which is due to start this month and has £220 million in funding.”
I do hope that this £220 million is coming out of the road tax and not the NHS budget.
Just kidding!
White-lining that doesn’t wear out 5 days after being done would be an improvement!!
… and don’t even get me started as to why councils – with too much spare cash? – are putting traffic lights at roundabouts. Roundabouts are the best way of controlling traffic flow efficiently.
What a waste of money! How about spending the funds on more road Police to prosecute those ‘drivers’ who do not bother with lane disipline, or haven’t a valid #DL in the first place?
“The other reason is that children were worried as they thought they were real cat’s eyes being embedded in the roads – hands up if you remember thinking that when you were a kid?”
Yes I do! And when my parents told me the story of how they got their name, not only was everything fine, but from then on those “cats’ eyes” were so much more interesting than er, “road studs” could ever be.
What a boring world we bequeath our snowflakes.
nice 1 Len
Don’t quote me on the years, but I recall around 2003, a part of A638 between Ackworth to Doncaster, they had some *test reflectors* for trial, they were really bright as you are driving towards them, and when you looked on your rear view mirror, the brightness never altered. One night we decided to be daring and turned the headlights off (not adviceable) , but we could actually drive on that part of the road without headlights on. These smart studs sound similar to what we encountered all those years ago. Maybe it is a good idea, maybe not, and since the road tax that we pay doesn’t seem to get the potholes repairs, maybe a new gimmick will amuse us for several years…
So the company who provide the studs “say” they reduce accidents. Wow! What a surprise.
Anything that guides me though the maze of unexpected lanes the modern road planners love to produce will be welcomed.
Of course it is a good idea !. They should be compulsory on all Uk highways, and should never have been allowed to disappear from roads where they had previously been installed !
Never thought that about cats for a moment. Always knew they were studs in the road. And this is in the late 1940s onwards.
Should we believe any of this is correct when the article refers to the A41 in Edinburgh !
This relates to a major roundabout on the A720 City Bypass in Edinburgh. The new lighting system is extremely effective in highlighting the correct lane procedure in dark conditions.
As this ‘smart’ new system will only be visible when it’s dark, could someone please explain how will it reduce accidents during the daytime?
Hi Stuart, thanks for pointing this out, we’ve updated this and it should now read correctly. Sorry for any confusion.
Smart pot hole fillers would be better! Oh I forgot there’s no money?
Well said, Len. Isn’t it funny that money can be found to do things like this.
Anything that can improve the chaos called Switch Island is worth it. Was originally going to be a flyover junction but with delays this was cancelled. Really needs a motorway style junction.
To be honest I’d take fewer deaths on the road over fewer potholes, but maybe that’s just me
Drivers trying to dodge potholes have been known to cause accidents.!
Councils find the money to lay speed humps, but would be better using it to fill the holes?? Seems like madness to me as the humps only slow down the responsible drivers anyway.
CEV
The councils reply is the pot holes act as speed bumps.
This enables the money to be used to feed the poor e.g. Christmas parties at council offices.
Pointless, I first read about this a few days ago through the British Motorcycle Federation.
I understand people get into the wrong lane sometimes, strangers in an area they are not familiar with for example, but most times if drivers/riders are looking ahead and taking notice of road signs, lane markings and traffic lights ahead I think the money being spent on this could be better spent mending the road surface PROPERLY instead of the lash up that is being done which only lasts until the next winter!
While I agree that the money could be spent in a better way I would also add the if the trees and shrubbery around road signs where kept trimmed we could also see the road signs!
Where’s the smart traffic lights, there is a brand new set near me that even at 3 am. with no traffic on the road it changes to red. and I have to stop. What about the smart pedestrian crossings that don’t change to red when there’s no one waiting to cross.
I think the idea is to have all the lights turn red so that when an approaching car is detected that route can be turned green very quickly. Theoretically with light traffic everybody gets a green light by the time they reach the stop line, and speeding cars get a red light long enough to slow them down. Of course if the car isn’t detected because the sensor is mis-directed or for some other reason then the plan fails.
Smart this, smart that. What would help here is more smart drivers.
These smart lights mentioned by Con Mann are laughingly called PUFFIN crossings (Pedestrian User Friendly) or something similar. The idea was that if the pedestrian crossed before the red phase, they don’t go red to traffic, similarly if a pedestrian takes longer to cross, then the traffic is supposed to be held on red longer.
Personally, I’ve never seen them work like that!
For years road studs have deflected the front wheels of cyclists causing crashes and injury. Their shape is different from cats eyes which are less dangerous. This is a commercial outfit trying to ignore the safety issues, and dumbass councils easily persuaded by the latest tricks.
So children think real cat’s eye’s used! This is due to the LACK of good education covering everyday life. I have noticed a distict lack of understanding of younger drivers over the years, most think they have a right to join the motorway when pushing in etc. Cat’s Eye’s have been in existance for many years so why change if not broken just educate people to drive correctly. As long as you can follow a sat nav though!!! What ever happened to good instruction with good road sense.
The UKs roads are busier than they have ever been. Considerably busier than just ten years ago.
The driving test for cars is also much more complicated than it used to be, including having to pass a theory test. Whether somebody can pass six GCSEs or not is irrelevant to being able to drive. As far as I know, the education system in this country has no relevance whatsoever to driving, pedestrian safety yes, dirving no.
You give the impression of being an elderly driver, forgive me if I am wrong. In my experience of driving for the last 41 years I have always considered the elderly to be the most dangerous drivers of all. They cannot cope with other traffic around them, they cannot drive fast enough for the speed of the roads they are on, they are clueless on roundabouts, they don’t understand how to indicate and so on and so on.
When you reach the age of 70 you have to reapply for a licence every three years. All you have to do is certify yourself that you are OK to drive. You don’t even need a doctor/GP to state that you seem alright to drive. A colleague of mine has a grandfather who has been diagnosed with dementia and is 74 years old. On a dementia test he identified a picture of a tractor as a cow. A hospital said he shouldn’t drive any more but his GP signed that he was alright. He continues to drive.
My grandfather was still driving at 81 (many years ago). He was driving down a very quiet 50 mph dual carriageway one day and slammed on his brakes. He lost control and a vehicle behind him collided with his car. There was no reason at all why he should have braked and he was actually held liable for the accident. That’s very unusual for a rear end collision. His insurance company insisted that a doctor should certify he was able to drive. Thankfully his doctor said no.
“most think they have a right to join the motorway when pushing in etc” What do you mean by this? Pushing in? Do you mean that when they join a busy very slow moving motorway, they “push in”? If you have any road sense at all then you should let joining traffic merge. Yes, they do “have a right to join” or do you think that joining traffic should be disallowed and queue back for miles?
Regarding complicated roundabouts, which are everywhere these days, if you have never been through a particular one before then it can be very difficult to make sure that you are in the right lane. As an example you can approach a roundabout with four lanes which are very badly signed. The road markings are invisible because cars are on them. It’s a hit and hopefully miss if you have to change lanes when on the roundabout. People who know the roundabout can be very unforgiving if you need to change lane, sound their horns etc. At this point, road rage is justifiable and you should use appropriate hand signals, just kidding!
On the A70 out of Edinburgh there’s a section of illuminated cat’s eyes in the middle of the road (white) and to the off side (red) with green showing junctions. I find them quite useful although I’m not sure they’ll last very long, quite a few have failed in the last ?5 years. They appear to be solar powered, which reduces the amount of wiring but took several days to implant, so I had to take an alternative route to work via an ice and snow covered road. A farmer kindly pulled me back out.
In last weeks papers there were calculations about the amount of time that driver’s attention is distracted by in car equipment, roadside ‘attractions’ and assorted signs etc on the highway. Whilst this system is intended to be helpful it will be something else to look at-and how long will it be before legislation appears on the Statute Book making it an offence to be in the ‘wrong’ lane on a roundabout. As for driver discipline will it make the slightest difference to those idiots who undertake, overtake, cut up & ignore traffic lights at junctions- I doubt it.
I agree, overtaking shouldn’t be allowed. /s
The existing white lines are often invisible (dirty), especially at night or in rain, so yes I think this is a good idea. BTW I never had a problem with the name cats eyes.
What’s country coming too >>>changing the name of cat’s eyes>>> How many children over years since they were introduced have been mentally affected adults ? As for tourist, worried by signs saying ” cats eyes removed” well I drive alot and I can’t remember seeing that sign ! Think you should more concerned about drivers who don’t know how to use their indicators on roundabouts, roundabouts are road junctions with a circle, so once on them indicate left when turning off them and not signal right when turning left. How many times have you come to a roundabout, sat there only to find cars not signalling and turning off left, if they had, you could have moved out.
I hope drivers continue not to signal right when turning left – that would be most confusing, they should of course signal left correctly.
Three points;
The post should be named ‘Smart Road Studs’ as already explained in the article.
Would it be better to spend the money on fixing pot holes
When we have self drive cars will these be needed anyway? They would simply be an expensive short term fix
Why don’t they seem to use these in other EU countries? Time they did, they are SO useful for driving safety….
Excellent idea, they won’t wear out like the paint does, and be far easier to see at night.
I have heard that meat balls are going to be renamed as they are being confused with a certain part of a male human body.
This country is getting more and more like a nanny state.
Meat spheres,?? James
Cev
That wouldn’t surprise me.
Oh , hot dogs have to be renamed too. LOL
And what about spotted dick??
Congestion relief? That’s a joke. Someone ought to suggest that to local authorities who seem determined to CREATE congestion with badly timed/totally uneccessary traffic lights. I know a local town near here where the traffic always flows much better when a particular set of lights aren’t working.
I think that a lot of traffic lights could simply be removed, ESPECIALLY from round-a-bouts. Mind you, that would result in an awful lot of drivers having to take some extra driving lessons to learn how round-a-bouts are supposed to work. Let’s not forget that they were introduced to keep traffic flowing, which is the exact opposite of traffic lights. Is there a round-a-bout anywhere that needs lights working 24hrs a day?
And as for re-naming cats eyes road studs, don’t start me.
Switch Island is a complete mess. It has been resdesigned a number of times and each time it becomes more unusable. Here two motorways come to an end the only way to access one from the other is via a roundabout (Switch Island). If this wasnt bad enough the main Ormskirk to Liverpool Road also has to cross the same roundabout.
If approaching Switch Island on the M57 and wish to go to Ormskirk or on the M58 you may need to cross 4 lanes of traffic in under 2/3rds of a mile. If you miss this ( and many do as it is poorly signed) – you will be destined to go round Switch Island and add to the confusion and congestion.
All this could have been avoided by having a direct link between the two motorways and a flyover for the Ormskirk to Liverpool Road. The idea that road studs ( smart or otherwise) might solve the problem of this dreadful planning and design is fairly ridiculous.
“The idea of creating runway style roads is part of the government’s program of congestion relief which is due to start this month and has £220 million in funding.”
I do hope that this £220 million is coming out of the road tax and not the NHS budget.
Just kidding!
White-lining that doesn’t wear out 5 days after being done would be an improvement!!
… and don’t even get me started as to why councils – with too much spare cash? – are putting traffic lights at roundabouts. Roundabouts are the best way of controlling traffic flow efficiently.
What a waste of money! How about spending the funds on more road Police to prosecute those ‘drivers’ who do not bother with lane disipline, or haven’t a valid #DL in the first place?
“The other reason is that children were worried as they thought they were real cat’s eyes being embedded in the roads – hands up if you remember thinking that when you were a kid?”
Yes I do! And when my parents told me the story of how they got their name, not only was everything fine, but from then on those “cats’ eyes” were so much more interesting than er, “road studs” could ever be.
What a boring world we bequeath our snowflakes.
nice 1 Len