Reflective Markers: How Cat's Eyes Help Make Highways Safer

Anyone who has ever traveled down a highway is familiar with reflective road markers

. These raised studs that mark one side of the road from the other are, like a lot of road safety measures, taken for granted. The truth is these devices serve an important role in raising safety levels on the road.

Sometimes called cats eyes, it might surprise some to know that these devices have been around since the 1930s. They were first invented by a man named Percy Shaw in the UK back in 1933. Their value was demonstrated during the blackouts of World War 2, when drivers of motor vehicles were still able to see the direction of roads at night, despite the lack of street lights. This was possible through the way these devices reflected the headlights back at their drivers. After the war, their popularity grew even more when their widespread use was backed up by the Ministry of Transport.

In the US, a similar invention appeared more than a decade later. These particular reflective markers were based on an invention of engineer Sidney Heenan. In the US, as in the UK, reflective markers function in the same way: they help make the road surface visible during nighttime, thereby increasing safety levels for motorists.

Reflective markers come in different colors, with each color for use in a certain situation:

Yellow or amber markers are used to separate areas with traffic moving in different directions or the left pavement edge

Blue markers are used to mark the location of fire hydrants.

Green markers are usually used to indicate to emergency vehicles that they can open gates when entering gated communities.

White markers are used to mark the right pavement edge or to mark lanes.

Usually, reflective markers have their reflectors on one side. There are, however, markers that have two reflectors; one on each side. While these type of markers may have the same color reflectors on each side, colors can also be combined on a marker, with one color on one side and a different color on the opposite side. Usually, white and yellow is combined with red; the red indicating do not enter in one direction and the white or yellow indicating normal use for the other.

Besides road reflective markers, there are also reflective markers that are elevated. These reflective markers are usually mounted on a 4 aluminum post and are used to mark driveways.

Reflective markers are usually made of high impact plastic, making them resistant to weather conditions and damage from vehicles. To attach reflective markers to the road, a special adhesive is used which is applied using a caulking gun.

When they were invented, road reflectors have been called the most significant invention ever produced in the interest of road safety. This statement is far from being just pure hyperbole. The simplicity of that safety conceptmaking the road visible during nighttimemade the invention of the road reflector a real breakthrough in road safety. The next time you are driving down a road and you are greeted by a row of amber colored road reflectors, take the time to appreciate themthat and Percy Shaws insight.

by: Xaviera Iglesias

POST COMMENT

A Guide to Playing Hard to Get - Get Him Hooked for Good! How to Make a Six Figure Income Top 25 Poll - Week 10 - No. 1 - Auburn, Until They Lose Roller Crusher Landlords, Furnish Your Property Well Get a Guy to Notice You – What You Can Do How To Achieve Your Goals Foreign, Low-Cost Threats Behind United Merger Lap Desk Tray Ahead of G20 Fighting a Speeding Ticket. Is It Worth It? Biking in Melbourne – Good Old days Significance of Generic Fax Cover Sheet