Road safety remains a key focus in the global transportation sector. According to data from the World Health Organisation, approximately 1.35 million people die in road traffic accidents worldwide each year, with accidents caused by unclear road markings and poor visibility accounting for as much as 30% of these incidents. Under adverse conditions such as nighttime, fog, or heavy rain, drivers’ visibility is impaired, making it difficult to distinguish road boundaries and hazardous areas, significantly increasing the risk of accidents. In such situations, reflective road studs serve as the ‘invisible guardians’ of road safety, enhancing road markings to provide drivers with clear guidance, thereby playing an irreplaceable key role in improving road safety standards.
The reflective properties of reflective road studs stem from their sophisticated optical design. Mainstream products utilise glass microsphere or microprism reflective film technology. Glass microspheres concentrate incoming light rays and reflect them back toward the light source through refraction and reflection principles; microprism reflective films utilise total internal reflection to achieve more efficient light reflection. When vehicle headlights illuminate them, these technologies cause the road studs to instantly ‘light up,’ reflecting light back into the driver’s field of vision with high intensity.
Advanced reflective technologies continue to evolve and improve. Some high-end road studs employ multi-layer composite reflective structures to further optimise light capture and reflection efficiency, ensuring stable and bright reflective performance under various angles and lighting conditions.
The reflective performance of reflective road studs has proven highly effective in practical applications. Professional tests show that high-quality road studs can be visible at night from a distance of 300–500 metres, far exceeding traditional road markings. On dark rural roads, the reflective properties of road studs can help drivers detect curves or obstacles 3–5 seconds earlier, effectively extending reaction time. After installing reflective road studs on a certain highway, the rate of nighttime vehicle lane departure accidents decreased by 42%, fully demonstrating their important role in reducing accident risks.
The material of reflective road studs determines their service life and reliability. Engineering plastic road studs are made from high-strength materials such as ABS and PC, combining lightweight and rugged properties, capable of withstanding repeated rolling from vehicles weighing over 20 tonnes; metal alloy road studs (such as aluminium alloy or stainless steel) are renowned for their exceptional hardness, capable of withstanding the impact of heavy-duty trucks. These materials undergo special processing, resulting in a compact internal structure that is unlikely to fracture or deform over prolonged use.
Different environments pose stringent challenges to track spike materials. In coastal areas, high salt fog environments can corrode metal materials, but reflective track spikes with salt fog-resistant coatings maintain their performance after 1,000 hours of salt fog testing. In industrial pollution zones, chemically corrosion-resistant materials can withstand acid rain and oil contamination. Under extreme climatic conditions, the road studs also perform exceptionally well: at -40°C, the material does not become brittle; at 80°C, it does not soften or deform, ensuring stable performance in various global environments.
Reflective road studs offer flexible installation methods and simple operation. Adhesive-type studs only require cleaning the road surface and applying special adhesive to secure them, with each installation taking no more than 2 minutes; embedded-type studs are precisely positioned using pre-cut grooves to ensure they are flush with the road surface; screw-fixed types are suitable for unstable road sections, providing greater stability. The installation process does not require large machinery, and a small construction team can efficiently complete the work, significantly reducing the impact on road traffic.
Reflective road studs require virtually ‘zero maintenance’ in daily use. The primary maintenance task is to periodically clean the reflective surface with a soft cloth or brush to remove dust, dirt, and grease, restoring optimal reflective performance. Their internal structure is sealed and waterproof, and electronic components (such as those in some smart road studs) are treated for moisture resistance, resulting in extremely low failure rates. Under normal usage conditions, the service life of the studs can reach 5–8 years, with annual maintenance costs averaging only 30% of those for comparable products.
In road signage systems, reflective road studs are an indispensable component. They clearly demarcate lane boundaries through orderly arrangement, providing drivers with clear guidance even on sections where lane markings are severely worn. At curves, road studs flash continuously or display high brightness to guide vehicles through turns smoothly; on slopes, they alert drivers to adjust their speed in advance; at intersections, they assist traffic signals and markings to regulate vehicle trajectories and improve traffic efficiency.
In construction zones, accident-prone areas, and around obstacles, reflective road studs serve as ‘safety sentinels.’ In road construction zones, red warning road studs flash at a high frequency to alert drivers from a distance to slow down and detour; around accident sites, yellow road studs form a warning zone to prevent secondary accidents; near obstacles, white road studs are brightly displayed to help drivers avoid them promptly, effectively reducing collision risks.
Whether it is the fast-moving traffic on highways, the complex road conditions in urban areas, or the simple environment of rural roads, reflective road studs can perfectly adapt. On highways, high-visibility road studs ensure clear visibility even at speeds of 120 km/h; on urban roads, road studs with diverse designs balance functionality and aesthetics; on rural roads, impact-resistant and wear-resistant road studs are used to handle irregular road surfaces and heavy-duty agricultural vehicles.
From rugged mountains to vast deserts, from tropical rainforests to permafrost regions, reflective road studs perform exceptionally well. In mountainous areas with numerous curves and steep slopes, anti-slip road studs increase friction to prevent vehicle skidding; in desert regions with strong winds and sand, dust-proof designs reduce sand accumulation; in wetland environments with high humidity, waterproof and moisture-resistant materials ensure normal operation of the road studs. Even under extreme weather conditions such as heavy rain, snowstorms, or sandstorms, the road studs remain in place, continuously providing safety assurance.
Compared to intelligent traffic systems, large-scale lighting equipment, and other road safety facilities, reflective road studs offer highly competitive procurement costs. Individual stud prices range from tens to hundreds of yuan, with flexible options based on material and functionality. For projects with limited budgets, by strategically arranging studs, significant improvements in road safety can be achieved with minimal investment, realising the principle of ‘small cost, big improvement.’
From a full lifecycle perspective, the cost-effectiveness advantage of reflective road studs is even more pronounced. Low maintenance costs and a long service life significantly reduce subsequent capital expenditures. Taking a 10-kilometre road as an example, after installing reflective road studs, maintenance costs over five years are only one-fifth of those for traditional lighting facilities. Additionally, the reduction in accident rates decreases social costs such as medical expenses, insurance claims, and vehicle repairs, generating substantial indirect economic benefits.
Reflective road studs establish a comprehensive road safety protection system through their outstanding reflective performance, high-quality material properties, convenient installation and maintenance, diverse functional applications, broad environmental adaptability, and cost-effective advantages. Each characteristic addresses specific pain points in road safety, collectively ensuring the safety of road users. Whether for new road construction projects or upgrades to existing roads, reflective road studs are a reliable choice for enhancing road safety standards.
