The use of solar studs in South Africa to reduce road casualties is described. South Africa had one of the highest road accident rates in the world with sharp bends and steep passes being a problem, particularly at night. Working with the provincial government, road safety specialists DPS Finance Consultants targeted high-profile 'red-spots' in Kwazulu-Natal province for the installation of Astucia SolarLite road studs. Using an integral light emitting diode light source the studs automatically illuminate when the ambient light fades and increase visibility for the driver by up to 900 metres. The studs require only a few hours of daylight to provide thebatteries with up to 10 days' supply of energy and represent a cost effective alternative to street lighting. A dramatic reduction in accidents ofaround 70 per cent has been achieved. Estimates are provided of the costsavings made.
Abstract