New heavy-duty SolarLite active road stud makes active road delineation easier than ever to specify and install
We’re delighted to announce that the SolarLite® S381 has achieved Department for Transport (DfT) Type Approval.
The latest addition to the SolarLite range, the SolarLite S381 combines our proven SolarLite surface stud with Prismo’s heavy-duty cast iron shoe to create a durable active road stud for heavily trafficked roads. Designed to be installed using the same industry-standard methods as conventional reflective road studs in a housing unit, it enables highway authorities and contractors to upgrade from passive road studs to active solar guidance without changing established installation practices or undertaking additional civil engineering works.
Built for Britain’s Roads
Specifically engineered for motorways, trunk roads, rural A-roads and local authority networks, the SolarLite S381 has been developed to withstand the demanding conditions found on heavily trafficked roads.
Its heavy-duty cast iron shoe provides enhanced protection against HGV traffic loading and winter maintenance operations, including snow ploughs, making it ideally suited to the Strategic Road Network and other high-demand applications.
The SolarLite S381 uses the same proven SolarLite technology already installed at thousands of locations throughout the UK. Powered by integrated solar cells, each road stud operates automatically from dusk until dawn and can continue to perform for up to seven days without sunlight.
Unlike conventional reflective road studs, which rely entirely on vehicle headlights, SolarLite actively projects bright LED light visible from distances of up to 900 metres, compared with around 90 metres for a reflective road stud in good conditions. This provides drivers with earlier visual guidance, helping them identify bends, junctions and other hazards sooner, particularly during darkness and adverse weather.
Supporting Safer, Lower Carbon Roads
The SolarLite S381 offers highway authorities a practical way to improve road safety while reducing energy consumption, carbon emissions and operating costs.
Powered entirely by renewable solar energy, the system requires no mains electricity and incurs no ongoing energy costs, making it an effective alternative to additional street lighting in appropriate locations.
The ADEPT Live Labs 2 Decarbonising Street Lighting programme demonstrated that alternative visual guidance solutions can reduce carbon emissions by up to 25% while delivering savings of £1.24 million over ten years compared with conventional street lighting, highlighting the role active solar road studs can play in creating safer, more sustainable highways.
Why Choose SolarLite® S381?
- DfT Type Approved and compliant with BS EN 1463
- Combines the proven SolarLite surface stud with heavy-duty cast iron shoe
- Designed and manufactured in the UK
- Installs using standard cast iron road stud installation methods
- Heavy-duty cast iron shoe designed for high-traffic environments
- Resistant to snow plough operations
- Active LED guidance visible from up to 900 metres
- Retro-reflective by day, active LED guidance by night
- Solar powered with no mains electricity or ongoing energy costs
- Low maintenance with reduced whole-life costs
- Supports decarbonisation by reducing the need for additional street lighting
With DfT Type Approval now in place, the SolarLite S381 is ready to help deliver safer roads, improved driver guidance and lower-carbon highway infrastructure across the UK.
