Bright Sparks and Smart Studs

A NZ company working in conjunction with Auckland University is set to revolutionise road safety technology. Harding Traffic Systems has developed battery-powered “smart studs” to replace the cat’s eyes currently marking roads around the world. The light emitting studs are able to direct traffic on an individual basis – for example, by pulsing green in one direction in the event of heavy fog or smoke. An offshoot program fulfils a long-held driver’s fantasy: voice recognition technology could enable motorists to command lights to “go green!”