Flashing cat-eyes?!

[ambler]

These were all over the place in japan, not as cat-eyes on the road but they were put along the top of the barriers around curves. They are good for letting you know something is there to be aware of, but I found them hopeless as guides to show you how the road goes. The reason being that the flashing on and off stops your brain/stereoscopic vision from judging the distance well. You really need to have a solid light to focus on and measure the speed you are approaching at, but with these things as soon as your eyes and brain start to do that, it disappears. Then next time it shows up you are another 10 metres closer, and with many of these lights flashing you lose track of which one it even was.

[Big Dog]

Great for teaching people about the perils of target fixation...

Is that the voice of experience?

[Big Dog]

These were all over the place in japan, not as cat-eyes on the road but they were put along the top of the barriers around curves. They are good for letting you know something is there to be aware of, but I found them hopeless as guides to show you how the road goes. The reason being that the flashing on and off stops your brain/stereoscopic vision from judging the distance well. You really need to have a solid light to focus on and measure the speed you are approaching at, but with these things as soon as your eyes and brain start to do that, it disappears. Then next time it shows up you are another 10 metres closer, and with many of these lights flashing you lose track of which one it even was.

My bigger concern is how will it affect epileptics who have a license?

[Forest]

Some were installed on the way to Snells beach ,many were pinched within weeks of them being placed.
these were solar powered and cost $70 each

The ones I've seen are inductively powered from an induction loop that is laid underneath the road surface.

I think they're a very cool application of super-bright LED technology, and I believe the system was invented here in NZ by a couple of engineering students. I also think they were first deployed in the Victoria tunnel in Wellington, but my memory is a bit hazy.

[skidMark]

Yep, I've noticed some in the little piece of road (with some nice long left and right urban corners) that joins Tamaki Drive with the Upland Rd/Orakei Rd roundabout.

i know where ya mean

be careful through there dude encountered many a boy racer fucking up and running wide through there...

spun out in my car there once...mind u we were doing handbrake turns.

[Morcs]

haha just ask Morcs bout hitting pot holes at a roundabout with knee down!!! Im sure he's game for catseyes

If you hit them with your knee down

Catseyes and knees arent a good mix.

They hurt. A lot.

[Number One]

I believe the system was invented here in NZ by a couple of engineering students.

More Kooowi ingenuity

[Qkchk:Me]

Been installed @ Royal Oak roundabout for Pedestrian Safety for nearly 2 years now............ See old Thread

[Usarka]

It is quite hard to see people about to cross what with all those railings, the zebra crossing, the raised traffic island and the yellow poles.

Once people get used to the flashing led's they'll have to think of something else.

Maybe a big neon arrow above the crossing that lights up and points when someones using it.

[Kittyhawk]

Catseyes and knees arent a good mix.

They hurt. A lot.

You wernt ment to see this post

[PrincessBandit]

Been installed @ Royal Oak roundabout for Pedestrian Safety for nearly 2 years now............ See old Thread

Must go and check them out - never seen any before in my life. I hate even different coloured lights on cars etc. so I don't think I'd cope with flashing ones! Maybe if I just shut my eyes whenever I see them...... Then again, maybe not.

[ManDownUnder]

I know the guy that worked on them (still is...) and he is NOT a University student.

They are installing them globally (the Swiss and other Europeans) are picking them up like mad and they're very very clever little doohickies. They can flash (yes) but also do sequencing which is all hum drum till you consider a couple of applications (for which they are very very popular).

Safety in a tunnel fire. Smoke everywhere from an accident - a fire or whatever is consuming oxygen pronto, and you have to leg it out of a long tunnel... where the nearest exit? (Oooo look the lights are telling me something - "go this way Luke... feel the force")

Also good to indicate upcoming issues (Flashing in an "agressive" pattern) etc.

Very very clever overall... and yes Kiwi made... selling them to the world.

[The Pastor]

they have speed cameras in them. go spraypaint one today!

[ManDownUnder]

Is that the voice of experience?

... at Disco corner...?

[Big Dog]

... at Disco corner...?

Did not know they had flashing lights there but I guess the way the story was related that would have been a target fixation issue.


The main problem I have with flashing lights is that when they are fast enough I find my self migrating toward them even if I am not looking at them. Unless I consciously decide to manage it.