Astucia SolarLite flush road stud uses stored solar power to give a ten-fold improvement in night time road visibility.

Shorter days and longer hours of darkness, along with inclement winter weather place particular emphasis on the need for road delineation, to show the driver where the road goes next. The latest generation of a British-designed “smart” road-stud has just been certified by the Department for Transport and is making a significant improvement to driving safety, with a big boost in visibility compared with the traditional reflective “cats-eye.”

The Astucia SolarLite™ stud stores solar energy during the day, then built-in Light Emitting Diodes automatically illuminate from dusk to dawn, providing drivers with up to 900 metres of visibility. This is ten times greater than the traditional, retro-reflective, passive road stud which relies on being illuminated by the headlight beam of the approaching vehicle. At best it has a useful range of 90 metres.

The increased visibility given by the SolarLite road stud extends driver reaction times from 3.2 to over 30 seconds, when driving at 60mph. The studs are now in use in approximately 120 locations across the UK and a number of Local Authorities have reported reductions in night time accidents of well over 70% since the installation of the SolarLite “smart” road studs.

Research carried out by the Transport Research Laboratory also shows that when the smart studs are used, drivers also significantly less likely to cross the white line in the centre of a road or move out of lane on a dual carriageway. They also brake earlier and more consistently.

The greater number of visual references also means that drivers tend not to speed into the corners. In addition, the flush fitting studs are also safer for cyclist and motorcyclists. All make their contribution to added driving safety.

The latest generation of the SolarLite F Series intelligent road stud has taken advantage of improved solar panel and Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology, along with internal design developments, to allow costs to be dramatically reduced in comparison with earlier units.

The latest Astucia stud reduces casualties on the road and has a projected life of eight to ten years, compared with just one to two years for a conventional retro-reflective stud. Over its lifespan an Astucia “smart” stud will therefore cost no more than a traditional cat’s eye. The units’ efficiency can also allow a reduction in the use of energy- and maintenance-intensive, carbon-inefficient, streetlights.

In comparison with the cost and trauma of a fatal road accident of course, the price of any road stud fades into insignificance. According to the latest UK Department for Transport annual statistics, there are on average more than 8 fatal accidents every day, each one costing the country £1.69 million pounds. While only one third of all journeys occur at night, almost half of the serious or fatal accidents occur during the hours of darkness.

In the UK, Astucia road studs are currently installed on roads in Lothian in Scotland, the Vale of Glamorgan in Wales, in Buckinghamshire, Norfolk and Oxfordshire. They are also used in more specialised applications such as demarking cycle lanes in Cambridgeshire and Fast Track bus lanes in Essex.

The smart, safe and sustainable concept that created the Astucia SolarLite studs was conceived in 1989 by Martin Dicks. A former member of the London Fire Brigade, he formed Astucia to develop and market his invention in 1992..

Martin is recognised within the industry as one of the true visionaries in this vital field of road safety, building on the legacy of Percy Shaw, the inventor of the original “cats-eye” in the 1930s. Dicks is the inventor of an entire product range covering solar and hardwired studs, including studs that can warn of impending hazards such as fog, ice and surface water, or stationary traffic ahead
In 2003, Astucia made a significant step forward when John Madejski OBE DL, best known for his ownership of Reading Football Club and, more recently for his charitable work in the arts field supporting the Royal Academy and the V&A museum, acquired a controlling interest in the business. He made further investments to fund the R&D program and has supported the development of the company as a part of the Clearview Traffic Group, which also includes Golden River Traffic, a leader in the field of automated traffic counting and classifying, and Count On Us, the largest UK provider of transportation data collection and analysis services.

“Astucia is shaping the future of traffic safety by providing superior information to drivers about potential hazards direct from the road in their natural field of vision” says Martin Rodgers, sales and marketing director for Clearview Traffic. “The advance information on the road ahead provided to drivers by the Astucia studs is clearly proven to reduce incidents, so we’re delighted to be able to bring to the market this next generation of flush stud, which is also easier and therefore cheaper to install, further justifying a unique British product which is continuing to prevent accidents and save lives.”

Prestige replacement vehicle provider, Accident Exchange, has launched a new standalone trade-only disposal website at www.aecarauction.com.

The new online facility will form part of the firm’s remarketing programme, which also includes a programme with BCA Auctions to offer a unique 100 percent plus “CAP clean” market valuations.

AECarAuctions.com will be populated with at least 50 vehicles at any one time with a bidding window of between 3-5 days and a reserve. Registration is free with an administration fee of just £25 per successful bid.

Accident Exchange operates a fleet of more than 5,600 vehicles supporting manufacturers and dealers nationwide via its unique accident management programme. Approximately 3,000 will be sold back into the trade every year. The majority will be prestige models from Audi, BMW, Mercedes and mainstream represented by marques including Honda, Toyota, Peugeot, VW and Ford.

Sold in ‘immediate retail condition’, the high specification models in core business silver and dark colours will be 12-18 months old and up to a maximum of 20,000 miles.

Former ‘The Car Shop’ chief, Adrian Lewis, who joined Accident Exchange at the start of the year, has spearheaded the project. He explained: “The trade will not see this kind of quality product outside of closed manufacturer auctions. Every vehicle has all the prerequisites for a popular retail marketplace”.

Dealers can register by visiting www.aecarauction.com or via the www.accidentexchange.com website.

Nationwide ‘fast-fit’ network ATS Euromaster is urging drivers across the UK to ensure their cars are prepared for winter, by taking advantage of a free vehicle health check.

Designed to guard against unnecessary breakdowns, the no-obligation inspections are available at any of ATS Euromaster’s 490 service centres across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

The vehicle health checks are suitable for any make, model and age of car or van, including both private and company-owned vehicles, and takes just fifteen minutes (there is no need to book).  The inspection covers tyre tread depth, tyre condition, tyre pressure and includes visual inspections of front brakes, battery, exhaust and shock absorbers, with a written report issued to drivers on completion.

Commenting on the free service, Vince McGurk, Group Operations Director at ATS Euromaster, says: “Breakdowns nearly double when the cold weather sets in, but with a little pre-winter preparation drivers can ensure their cars are in tip-top condition.  What’s more, spending a few minutes sorting out issues now usually proves cheaper and more convenient than trying to rectify the problem when your car won’t start on a cold winter’s morning.”

“The onset of winter also sees the number of road traffic accidents peak, as drivers struggle for grip on snow and ice-covered roads.  This makes it essential to ensure that tyres are properly inflated and have plenty of remaining tread, as they are the only part of a vehicle in direct contact with the road’s surface.  For cars without run-flat tyres, a good condition spare in the boot is also essential for emergencies,” he adds.

Last winter ATS Euromaster technicians carried out thousands of free vehicle health checks and provided valuable advice to motorists in preparation for the colder months.  The most commonly found defects were under-inflated tyres and tyres with less than 1.6mm of tread remaining (the legal limit – although in line with many car manufacturers, ATS Euromaster recommend replacing at 3mm).

To complement its vehicle health checks, ATS Euromaster is also advising motorists to ensure they are prepared for possible delays and emergencies on the roads this winter, by carrying the following items in their vehicles:

ATS Euromaster winter motoring checklist

1. De-icer spray / ice scraper
2. First aid kit
3. Winter coat / blanket
4. Sturdy shoes (e.g. boots)
5. Torch and spare batteries
6. Warning triangle, jump leads and tow rope
7. Road atlas / satellite navigation unit
8. Hands-free mobile phone
9. Shovel
10. Soft drink and snack (in case of long delays)