The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) in the US is planning to install solar-powered road reflectors to improve driver visibility and reduce run-off-the-road crashes in the region.

The agency will install the solar studs, supplied by London-based Astucia, as part of a test project on the SR 530 highway between Arlington and Darrington in Washington.

The solar-powered road reflectors contain a light emitting diode (LED), which will automatically light up at night to offer ten times greater visibility for drivers than the current retro-reflective markers, according to WSDOT.

WSDOT may also carry out additional tests of the lights on other road surfaces and under other conditions.