Reflecting Roadstuds Ltd
Encyclopedia
Reflecting Roadstuds is the main company in the UK that manufactures cat's eyes
for use on roads.
, of Halifax
(then in the West Riding of Yorkshire
) invented the cats eye. Reflecting Roadstuds was set up a year later in 1935. It required £500 from two company directors and established a 20 acres (80,937.2 m²) manufacturing site with 130 workers, later making a million roadstuds a year. Initially it was difficult for the company to sell their new idea to road constructors and the government. However the onset of the blackout
in the Second World War saw the idea being adopted throughout the United Kingdom
. By the 1960s, its products were used on lane markings, then on the edge of carriageways from the early 1970s.
Roadstuds, also known as raised pavement marker
s, are also made by Roadcraft Safety Products of Weston-super-Mare
.
It makes:
Cat's eye (road)
The cat's eye is a retroreflective safety device used in road marking and was the first of a range of raised pavement markers. It originated in the UK in 1933 and is today used all over the world....
for use on roads.
History
Percy ShawPercy Shaw
Percy Shaw, OBE was an English inventor and businessman. He patented the reflective road stud or "cat's eye" in 1934, and set up a company to manufacture his invention in 1935.-Biography:...
, of Halifax
Halifax, West Yorkshire
Halifax is a minster town, within the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale in West Yorkshire, England. It has an urban area population of 82,056 in the 2001 Census. It is well-known as a centre of England's woollen manufacture from the 15th century onward, originally dealing through the Halifax Piece...
(then in the West Riding of Yorkshire
West Riding of Yorkshire
The West Riding of Yorkshire is one of the three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the administrative county, County of York, West Riding , was based closely on the historic boundaries...
) invented the cats eye. Reflecting Roadstuds was set up a year later in 1935. It required £500 from two company directors and established a 20 acres (80,937.2 m²) manufacturing site with 130 workers, later making a million roadstuds a year. Initially it was difficult for the company to sell their new idea to road constructors and the government. However the onset of the blackout
Blackout (wartime)
A blackout during war, or apprehended war, is the practice of collectively minimizing outdoor light, including upwardly directed light. This was done in the 20th century to prevent crews of enemy aircraft from being able to navigate to their targets simply by sight, for example during the London...
in the Second World War saw the idea being adopted throughout the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. By the 1960s, its products were used on lane markings, then on the edge of carriageways from the early 1970s.
Company structure
It is situated off Boothtown Road (A647) in the north of Halifax.Roadstuds, also known as raised pavement marker
Raised pavement marker
A raised pavement marker is a safety device used on roads. These devices are usually made with plastic, ceramic, or occasionally metal, and come in a variety of shapes and colors. Many varieties include a lens or sheeting that enhance their visibility by reflecting automotive headlights...
s, are also made by Roadcraft Safety Products of Weston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare is a seaside resort, town and civil parish in the unitary authority of North Somerset, which is within the ceremonial county of Somerset, England. It is located on the Bristol Channel coast, south west of Bristol, spanning the coast between the bounding high ground of Worlebury...
.
Products
The products conform to the 1998 British Standard BS EN 1463, which lists standards for road markings and reflective materials, and the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions.It makes:
- Cat's eyesCat's eye (road)The cat's eye is a retroreflective safety device used in road marking and was the first of a range of raised pavement markers. It originated in the UK in 1933 and is today used all over the world....
- Pedestrian crossingPedestrian crossingA pedestrian crossing or crosswalk is a designated point on a road at which some means are employed to assist pedestrians wishing to cross. They are designed to keep pedestrians together where they can be seen by motorists, and where they can cross most safely across the flow of vehicular traffic...
studs - Tactile paving studs