Motorway Reflective Studs

Where else can you find reflective studs?

Predominately found on motorways, reflective studs are also placed on some A-roads and dual carriageways. Reflective studs can be found on roads that are poorly lit and on roads where vehicles travel at or close to the national speed limit. You can also found reflective studs on double solid white lines when vehicles are prohibited from overtaking.

Why are reflective motorway studs useful?

In situations where visibility is poor, for example in extreme fog or driving rain, you will often be required to turn on your dipped headlights and in some cases your fog lights too. The motorway carriageway can become difficult to drive on in such situations and reflective studs are useful, as they help drivers understand their positioning on the road, while slightly improving visibility and reducing the chances of accidents.

Where are motorway reflective studs placed?

The idea behind the reflective studs is that different colours are placed at different points on the carriageway. This is done to help motorists identify where they are based on the colour of the reflective stud. There are four colours used on the motorway in the UK.

Red reflective studs

Red studs are placed between the edge of the left-hand lane and the hard shoulder on all motorways. The studs are used to make motorists aware of the hard shoulder and you can also find red studs on the edge of the left-hand lane of dual carriageways and some A-roads too.

White reflective studs

White studs are found in between lanes on motorways and some dual carriageways too. The studs are used to separate the acceleration lane, the middle lane and the normal driving lane on a three or four-lane motorway.

Amber reflective studs

Amber studs are found on the edge of the acceleration lane and the central reservation. If you find yourself travelling too close to these studs, you could be in danger as should you hit the central reservation, it will surely cause a serious incident.

Green reflective studs

Green studs are used to mark the edge of motorway slip roads and they are used to alert you to the presence of traffic either leaving or joining the motorway.
To pass your driving theory test you will need to understand the positioning of each of the studs and for more information on this topic, you can read rule 152 of the Highway Code and the wikipedia article on the origin of cats eyes.