Road lighting and use of reflectors

Good visibility is crucial for traffic safety. Road lighting and reflectors help you see the road, the road’s path, and other road users in the dark and in poor visibility conditions.

Road Lighting

Road lighting is primarily found in densely populated areas, at intersections, and in tunnels. Road lighting provides better visibility and makes it easier to spot pedestrians and cyclists.

• Road lighting is not present on all roads – outside densely populated areas, many roads lack lighting.
• When road lighting ends, it often means that you are entering a road with a higher speed limit and fewer intersections.
• In tunnels, lighting is especially important to avoid glare when entering and exiting.

Reflector posts along the road

Reflector posts are small posts with reflectors that show the road’s path, especially in curves and on stretches without road lighting.

Cat’s eyes and road markings

Cat’s eyes are reflectors embedded in the road surface that light up when headlights hit them. They are used to mark:

• Center lines
• Lane divider lines
• Exits and ramps

Cat’s eyes are particularly useful in rainy weather and on roads without lighting, where normal road markings may be difficult to see.

Use of reflectors for people

• Pedestrians should use reflectors in the dark – as a driver, you must still expect people without reflectors.
• A person with a reflector can be seen from 140 meters away, compared to only 25–30 meters without a reflector.
• As a driver, it is your responsibility to adjust your speed so that you can stop within the illuminated zone.

The relationship between light and speed

When driving in the dark , you should always be able to stop within the distance you can see is clear. Without road lighting, this often means that speed must be significantly reduced.

Typical pitfalls

• Driving too fast on dark roads without lighting.
• Relying solely on road lighting and forgetting that it may have gaps.
• Overlooking that yellow and white reflectors on the posts indicate different sides of the road.

Further reading

• Read about driving in the dark for rules on light use and visibility.
• See edge lines and road shoulders to understand how the edge line helps in the dark.
• Understand guardrails and safety zones for other safety measures along the road.
• Read about road types and road classes to see which roads have lighting.