Plastic Road Studs: The Common Choice for Roads and Highways

In the road transportation system, perfect safety facilities are the key to ensure the safety of traveling. Proper road marking and guidance system can effectively reduce the chance of traffic accidents. According to statistics, traffic accidents are reduced by an average of 30%-40% on road sections with standardized road markings and guidance facilities. Road studs as an important part of the road infrastructure, in guiding vehicles, regulating traffic order plays an indispensable role.Plastic road studs are now widely used on roads and highways around the world. Whether it's a street in a busy city or a highway in a remote area, they can be found all over the world. Next, we'll take a closer look at why plastic road studs have become a common choice for road construction and maintenance.
 

Why plastic road studs are common

Plastic road studs are prevalent on road surfaces for multiple compelling reasons. First, their lightweight nature is a significant advantage. This characteristic not only simplifies transportation but also makes the installation process much easier compared to heavier counterparts like metal or ceramic studs. In the event of a vehicle hitting a plastic road stud, the damage inflicted on the vehicle is notably reduced, which is a distinct benefit.

Their highly reflective surfaces contribute to excellent visibility, making them extremely useful for ensuring safe night driving. Road authorities are particularly drawn to plastic road studs because they offer remarkable cost - effectiveness. The inherent flexibility of plastic enables the studs to absorb a certain amount of impact, which helps prevent breakage. Even in areas where the weather is extreme, plastic road studs prove their worth by maintaining their functionality without succumbing to the harsh conditions.
 

Where plastic road studs are used

City streets

In the city streets, plastic road studs are used to clearly delineate the lanes, so that the traffic is in order. According to traffic department statistics, traffic congestion is reduced by about 20% - 30% on streets where plastic road studs are installed to delineate lanes. The distinctive color and high reflectivity of plastic studs can effectively remind drivers to pay attention to the crosswalk, to protect the safety of pedestrians. Pedestrian accidents are reduced by about 15%-25% on roadways with crosswalks marked with plastic road studs. In order to promote green travel and ensure the safety of bicyclists, plastic road studs can be used to mark bicycle lanes, make their boundaries clear, and reduce conflicts between motor vehicles and bicycles.
 

Highways

On highways, the reflective properties of plastic road studs are particularly important at night and in foggy conditions. Studies have shown that in foggy conditions, the visibility distance of drivers on highway sections with plastic road studs is increased by about 30 - 50 meters compared to those without, greatly improving driving safety.Plastic road studs help drivers stay in the correct lane at high speeds, reducing accidents caused by lane departure. Data shows that accidents caused by lane departure are reduced by about 20% - 30% on highways where plastic road studs are installed.
 

Intersections and traffic circles

At busy intersections and traffic circles, plastic road studs guide vehicles in an orderly manner, avoiding traffic chaos. After installing plastic road studs at a large traffic circle, traffic congestion was reduced by about 15 - 20 minutes. Properly installed plastic road studs help optimize traffic flow, improve the efficiency of intersections and reduce waiting times.
 

Parking lots and private roads

In parking lots, plastic road studs are used to clearly mark parking spaces and facilitate parking for drivers. According to feedback from parking lot management, the accuracy of vehicle parking has increased by about 30%-40% with the use of plastic road studs to mark parking spaces. In private road areas such as airports, shopping centers and residential areas, plastic road studs can be used to demarcate restricted areas to ensure traffic safety and order in the area.
 

Types of plastic road studs

Reflective road studs

Reflective road studs are partly made of plastic with a specially designed reflective surface that reflects light in a directional manner. Reflective materials with high refractive index, such as micro prismatic reflective film, are usually used to enhance the reflective effect. Reflective road studs provide drivers with clear visual guidance to help them stay in the correct lane and avoid veering off the road at night or in low visibility conditions. They are mainly suitable for highways and roads with high speeds, where their high reflective performance effectively ensures driving safety.
 

Raised road studs

Made of plastic, rubber, or metal, raised road studs have a unique design that protrudes from the road surface. Raised road studs form a physical barrier between lanes, effectively reducing the risk of head-on collisions and side-scratching accidents. It has been estimated that there is a 15%-25% reduction in the number of accidents on roadways where raised road studs have been installed to separate lanes of traffic. Raised road studs can also be used to mark the edge of the road, guiding drivers to stay within the correct driving range, as well as facilitating quick identification of the road by emergency vehicles, ensuring smooth passage in case of emergency.
 

Solar road studs

Made primarily of plastic, solar road studs rely on solar panels to collect and convert solar energy into electricity to power built-in LED lights. During the day, the solar panel stores solar energy, and at night or when there is insufficient light, the LED lights automatically light up to provide clear road markings. In bad weather conditions such as rain or fog, the solar road studs can effectively indicate the direction of the road and prolong the driver's reaction time. Experiments have shown that in rainy weather conditions, solar road studs can enable drivers to find road markings about 40 - 60 meters in advance, which improves driving safety. Commonly used in crosswalks, traffic circles, traffic islands and other areas to provide clear night and bad weather markings for these complex roadways.
 

Advantages of plastic road studs

Affordable

Plastic is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and its lightweight nature allows for a significant reduction in transportation costs. The combined manufacturing and transportation costs of plastic road studs can be reduced by approximately 40%-60% compared to metal road studs. This makes plastic road studs a very cost-effective choice for road safety projects, especially for large-scale road construction and maintenance projects, where safety performance is guaranteed while costs are kept under control.
 

Durability and weathering

The high quality of the plastic material gives the spike excellent resistance to corrosion, UV rays and harsh weather, allowing it to be used for long periods of time in a variety of complex environments. Compared with other materials, plastic road studs have a longer service life and are replaced less frequently. For example, the average service life of metal road studs is 3 - 5 years, while plastic road studs can last 5-8 years, which greatly reduces the replacement cost and workload in road maintenance.
 

Easy to install

Due to their light weight, plastic road studs are easy to handle and operate during installation,and can be installed by a single person,whereas metal road studs usually require the collaboration of several people.This makes the installation of plastic studs labor costs significantly reduced,according to estimates, the installation of plastic studs labor costs than the installation of metal studs about 30% - 50% lower.
 

Less maintenance required

Plastic road studs can withstand the wear and tear caused by traffic flow and various environmental factors, and are not susceptible to damage or deformation. Over their lifetime, they require little additional maintenance, which can result in significant savings compared to other road studs that require regular maintenance. For example, the annual maintenance cost per kilometer for ceramic studs is about $1200 - $1800, while plastic studs are only $500 - $800.
 

Suitable for a wide range of surfaces

Whether it is asphalt, concrete or other special pavement materials, plastic road studs can be firmly attached through the appropriate installation method to fulfill their road marking function. In different scenarios, such as urban roads and rural highways, plastic road studs show good applicability and provide reliable marking solutions for various road infrastructures.
 

Reflective performance

The reflective design of plastic road studs enables them to be clearly visible at night or under low light conditions, effectively guiding drivers' vision and reducing the risk of accidents. By increasing the visibility of road markings, plastic road studs make an important contribution to overall road safety and significantly improve road conditions at night and in bad weather.
 

Challenges and cautions

Not well suited for heavy traffic

In high-speed, high-load traffic scenarios, such as roadways where large trucks and buses travel frequently, the tremendous pressure of heavy vehicles can cause damage to plastic road studs. For example, the axles of heavy trucks can exert thousands of pounds of pressure per square inch, making plastic road studs susceptible to cracking, breaking or severe deformation over time.In contrast, metal or ceramic studs perform better in these high-stress environments, and their robust materials are able to withstand repeated impacts from heavy vehicles without damage, retaining their shape and function. In areas with heavy traffic, consider using metal or ceramic road studs, or combine plastic road studs with other reinforcements, such as adding protective pads around the plastic road studs, to increase their durability.
 

Wear and tear over time

Traffic friction and various weather conditions are the main causes of wear and tear on plastic road studs. Constant vehicle traffic gradually wears down the surface of the spike. In cold regions, freeze-thaw cycles cause cracks in the plastic due to repeated expansion and contraction; in hot regions, ultraviolet rays destroy the chemical structure of the plastic and make it brittle.

Wear and tear also reduces the reflective properties of the spike, and the reflective coating on its surface may fall off due to traffic abrasion and environmental pollution, affecting the driver's visual guidance effect. To ensure the performance of plastic road studs, visual inspection should be carried out at least once a month in busy traffic sections, and once a quarter in less traffic sections. Once the reflective performance is found to have deteriorated below an acceptable level, they should be replaced or refurbished in a timely manner to safeguard their effective guidance to drivers in low light or adverse weather conditions.
 

Need for proper installation

The location and spacing of plastic road studs are critical. If the installation interval is not reasonable, such as too large an interval at a curve, drivers may not be able to accurately judge the curvature of the road, affecting driving safety. The quality of the glue used to fix the spike is directly related to the degree of solidity of the spike. Poor quality glue can not withstand the shear force generated by the vehicle driving, in the humid environment, the adhesion of the glue will be further reduced, resulting in easy to fall off the road nails. The installation should be carried out by professionally trained personnel in accordance with strict installation guidelines.

Before installation, the road surface should be thoroughly cleaned and pre-treated, then using high quality adhesive designed for road applications, the spike should be carefully placed and compacted according to the manufacturer's specified curing time to ensure the spike is securely installed, prolonging its lifespan and guaranteeing its reliable performance.

Plastic roadway road studs are a common choice for road and highway construction and maintenance due to their lightweight, high visibility, cost-effectiveness, durability, and wide applicability in a variety of scenarios. Different types of plastic road studs, such as reflective road studs, raised road studs, and solar road studs, each play a unique role in road safety. Despite challenges such as being less suitable for heavy traffic, wear and tear over time, and the need for proper installation, these issues can be effectively addressed through sound countermeasure strategies. As material science and manufacturing technology continue to advance, plastic road studs are expected to make even greater breakthroughs in design and material properties. Its application scope will also be further expanded to play a more important role in the future construction of road infrastructure. Road management departments and construction units in the planning and implementation of road projects, should give full consideration to the advantages of plastic road nails, in order to enhance the level of road safety to make a positive contribution.