Skip to main content

LED road studs aid level crossing safety

Active LED solar road studs supplied by Rennicks UK have been granted a Certificate of Acceptance by the authority responsible for the UK’s railways, paving the way for the studs to be installed at level crossings around the country. Rennicks say that the road studs are an intuitive signal to pedestrians, cyclists and drivers in the approach to and crossing the track. The studs use dual LEDs with an internal prismatic system for high performance and solar/battery technology for environmental sustaina
June 16, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
Active LED solar road studs supplied by Rennicks UK have been granted a Certificate of Acceptance by the authority responsible for the UK’s railways, paving the way for the studs to be installed at level crossings around the country.

Rennicks say that the road studs are an intuitive signal to pedestrians, cyclists and drivers in the approach to and crossing the track.

The studs use dual LEDs with an internal prismatic system for high performance and solar/battery technology for environmental sustainability. They create a brightly illuminated indication of the length and width of the crossing surface edges and are effective for both drivers and pedestrians during night-time hours or poor weather conditions.

According to Rennicks, the studs could be used as part of the measures designed to improve rail crossing safety following the publication of a report by the Transport Select Committee warning that many hundreds of crossings still pose an ‘unacceptable’ danger to the public. The Office of Rail Regulation, which is responsible for rail safety, is calling for innovative solutions such as the use of new technology, while MPs have been looking into a range of proposals to reduce risk, developed by experts at the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) and Transport Research Laboratory (491 TRL).

John Swift, Rennicks UK national sales manager, believes active LED road studs, said to be far more effective than traditional reflective units, can now provide part of the solution.

He said: “By granting a Certificate of Acceptance for the LED studs, 5021 Network Rail are showing they’re considering changes very carefully by using new technology that maybe wasn’t available before. We believe the use of these studs along with other measures, such as improved signage, can help reduce risk by providing better and intuitive information.”

“The studs are also Type Approved by the UK 1837 Department for Transport for road use, which means local authorities can now work with the same solution on the approaches to the crossings. This aids level crossings around the country providing key decision points for all users traversing a level crossing at night.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • New Zealand government driving the switch to electric vehicles
    May 9, 2016
    The New Zealand government has announced plans to double the number of electric vehicles in the country every year to reach approximately 64,000 by 2021 in an ambitious and wide ranging package of measures to increase the uptake of electric vehicles. The package also includes extending the road user charges exemption on light electric vehicles until they make up two percent of the light vehicle fleet and a new road user charges exemption for heavy electric vehicles until they make up two percent of the h
  • Heavy cost of car safety systems gives buyers pause
    September 11, 2013
    New research by Frost and Sullivan finds that constant technological innovations in automotive safety warrant frequent updates to legislation. With the number of fatalities and injuries on the rise, legislative authorities in Europe are taking a keen interest in the safety of pedestrians, passengers and drivers. This enhanced focus on safety has far-reaching ramifications for the automotive industry.
  • Measures announced to improve cycle safety in London
    September 5, 2013
    A series of recently-announced measures to improve cycle safety in London include the establishment of a new industrial heavy goods vehicle (HGV) task force to take direct action against dangerous HGV drivers, vehicles and operators, review exemptions to current HGV regulations and a call for European Union to speed up its review on the design of HGVs to increase drivers’ visibility of vulnerable road users. In addition, the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Driving Standards Agency are to issue a c
  • Smart zebra crossing used to promote road safety in eastern China
    September 18, 2017
    In an effort to improve road safety at night, the town of Suqian in Jiangsu Province, China has installed a smart zebra crossing, which has LED lights embedded in the road alongside it, reports GB Times. The lights begin to flash when pedestrians step on to the crossing, while a traffic sign with the words ‘Yield to pedestrians’ lights up. A warning notice autonomously warns drivers that they are approaching the crossing.