Cat’s eyes and the MPW
cat’s eyes are semi-spherical road markers installed along roads to improve visibility, especially at night. they are widely used around the world.
they are called “cat’s eyes” because they reflect vehicle headlights and glow in the darkness, resembling a cat’s eyes.
british engineer percy shaw invented cat’s eyes in 1933. his inspiration came from seeing the reflection of his car’s headlights in a cat’s eyes on the side of the road during a foggy night. the reflection helped him avoid veering off the road.
cat’s eyes later became particularly important during world war ii. during that period, nighttime blackouts were imposed to prevent german aircraft from identifying and targeting cities.
cat’s eyes helped drivers navigate roads in complete darkness without relying on street lighting. their use expanded significantly after world war ii.
the original design of cat’s eyes consisted of a metal or rubber body fixed to the road surface. older versions were often made of cast iron. modern versions commonly use rubber and reinforced polyurethane.
the flexible material allows the road marker to compress and sink slightly when vehicles pass over it. this helps protect the marker from damage. it also allows the movement of vehicles to help clean the reflector’s surface.
each unit contains glass reflectors positioned at precise angles. these reflectors direct vehicle headlights back toward drivers.
the united kingdom, where cat’s eyes originated, continues to manufacture them. astucia, which inherited the legacy of reflecting roadstuds, is one of the major manufacturers of these road safety devices.
china has also become one of the world’s leading producers and exporters of cat’s eyes. chinese manufacturers produce different types made from plastic, glass, and rubber. they also manufacture solar-powered versions.
the united states produces similar road markers with some design differences. india, south korea, and taiwan are also major manufacturers, particularly for export to asian and african markets.
in europe, germany and italy produce advanced versions. some of these models have their own illumination instead of relying only on reflected headlights.
the author says they decided to write about cat’s eyes again because of what they consider excessive and unreasonable use by kuwait’s ministry of public works.
according to the author, thousands of cat’s eyes are being installed on internal roads, mainly to warn drivers about speed bumps.
the author claims that the ministry has installed 48 cat’s eyes around each speed bump based on what they describe as irrational specifications.
the author points out that many of these speed bumps have existed for decades without warning devices, special markings, or additional lighting.
the author urges the minister of public works, dr. noura al-mashaan, to reconsider this practice and stop what they describe as harmful overuse.
although cat’s eyes provide important safety benefits, they can also create risks for vehicle tires if they become damaged or broken. damaged units can develop sharp edges that may potentially damage tires.
the author argues that there are cheaper, simpler, and more effective ways to warn drivers about speed bumps.
the author therefore questions the need to install dozens of cat’s eyes in front of every speed bump when alternative warning methods are available.
