Not All In-Pavement Markers or Systems are Created Equal!

In-pavement markers, or IRWLs (in-road warning lights) started being installed over 15 years ago. Some were converted runway lights, designed for airports where continual and active maintenance is possible and imperative.  Others were, and still are made by small companies, created by entrepreneurial inventors, who saw a technology to improve safety.  And then there is LaneLight, designed and extensively tested prior to their release to market.

Other than the guidelines in the MUTCD Section 4L.01, describing allowable locations, maximum marker height (less than 19mm or .75 inch), yellow color, flash rate, and marker placement,  most states do not have set standards for IRWLs.  This makes it challenging for the engineer, city or agency to compare one manufacturer or product to another.  One product may be much better than another, while the customer often has only the salesman's word on a product's quality.

Request independent certification, testing and check references.

Design. 

LaneLight markers are designed and manufactured by Swarco Futurit.  A company founded in 1956, and specializing in traffic safety products using LEDs and optics.  

The unit has a very low profile, less than 3mm above the road surface.  It can be installed flush with the road surface in snowplow regions.  Other products are much higher, leaving them more prone to damage from impact, vibration and snowplowing.  LaneLight uses no plastic parts exposed to traffic.  Most others do, making them liable to fail within a few years or sooner.  LaneLight uses no buried connectors that can cause hidden faults.

Testing.  

LaneLight is the only in-pavement marker to be independently tested and certified to meet strict standards for impact, vibration, environmental, colormetrics, light intensity and distribution by BASt, the Federal Highway Research Institute in Germany. 

Warranty.

LaneLight systems come with the longest warranty available.  

Visibility. 

All IRWL manufacturers will state values for visibility, many in candela (cd) or candela per meter squared (cd/m²).  There seems to be much confusion as to how these measurements are derived.  One cannot simply take the candela rating for each LED as specified from the LED manufacturer and add them together to get the light output per marker.

LaneLight markers each emit 1.6 million cd/m², with optics designed to create an effective distribution of the light.  This value is provided and attested by BASt, the German certification agency, as part of the above testing.  LaneLights are visible for 1000ft, while other are only visible up to 500ft.

Customer Satisfaction.

Review other installations and make inquiries regarding performance. We do not 'cherry pick' references; we work hard to ensure all our customers are satisfied.  

Ease of Installation.

There is NO trenching required.  A simple 3 inch deep,  7 inch core hole per marker and a  2 1/2  inch deep, 3/8 inch saw-cut, similar to what you would do for a loop detector, between the markers, activation devices and controller, is all that is needed. 

Every in-pavement system, wireless or wired, will require at least partial closure of the road to traffic while work is being performed.  Most LaneLight crosswalk systems can be installed in one day. 

Maintenance.

LaneLight systems are designed to be maintenance-free. 

No Battery Replacement.

There are no batteries in each marker to replace in 2-5 years.  Wireless systems require road closure, purchase, removal and re-installation of new batteries.  The maintenance cost of this will depend on whether the batteries are replaced in individual markers as they fail, or replacing all of them once it is noticed they have started to fail, or a scheduled change-out of all the batteries estimated on when they will, and hopefully before they do, fail.  Historical data suggests that in most wireless systems the markers fail before the batteries, which requires on-going maintenance,   making them a very expensive system overall.  RF systems are also susceptible to interference from many sources, including underground power lines.

NO water ingress issues.   

LaneLight markers' bases are completely filled with re-enterable gel during installation.  All wire connections use silicon-filled connectors, and military-spec cable glands are used.  The proprietary LaneLight control cable has a water-blocking tape designed to prevent any water ingress into the conductors, and the conductors are non-corroding, marine grade.