How can innovative road safety technology help local authorities improve safety while reducing costs and carbon emissions?
We caught up with Alastair King, Head of SolarLite at Clearview Intelligence, to discuss the SolarLite Local Authority Impact Challenge and how authorities can apply to trial solar-powered road studs to address road safety challenges on their networks.
Q. Why this challenge, and why now?
A. I’m convinced SolarLite can make a real difference to road safety in the right environment. This Challenge gives authorities the opportunity to explore that on their own roads, with our support. We know teams are busy balancing safety and carbon priorities all within tighter budgets. We really want to help move an idea into a practical scheme, then measure what it achieves. If you have a location where clearer guidance after dark could help, we want to hear about it.
Q. What can we learn from Live Labs 2?
A. The important lesson from the East Riding Live Labs 2 project is to look at what road users actually need at each location. SolarLite was part of a much wider approach to road markings, lighting, signage and driver behaviour, backed by monitoring. It’s given other authorities a useful basis for asking whether a different approach could work on their road networks.
Q. Where could the technology make a difference?
A. I’m certain highway teams throughout the land will already have a ‘problem location’ in mind. A difficult bend, a confusing junction or a roundabout where the route ahead is harder to read after dark. Those are the types of challenges we want to explore. There may also be locations where aging lighting assets have become expensive to maintain and an alternative deserves consideration. I’d like solar-powered road studs to come into the design conversation far earlier.
Q. What makes a strong application?
A. A strong application will start with a clear problem. We know highways teams are busy, so focus your effort on explaining your challenge and the difference you want to make. Where is it? What’s happening? What would you like to change? Tell us what you know about the site and include useful data you already hold. Remember you don’t need to design the SolarLite installation before applying.
Q. What support is available to applicants?
A. Authorities will bring their in-depth knowledge of the site. We’ll bring the technical expertise to help the three successful authorities develop their scheme and agree an evaluation approach. Each will receive up to 100 studs with standard installation. Before applying, authorities should join an LCRIG webinar, where they can ask me any questions.
Q. Why is collaboration important?
A. Bringing different perspectives together gives us a better chance of delivering something meaningful. It means we can challenge assumptions and share our understanding honestly. As with everything in life, collaboration is how we build confidence for trying a different approach.
Q. How will the learning benefit the wider sector?
A: Knowing why something worked at a particular location is much more useful than simply seeing a photograph of a finished scheme. We want to give authorities the evidence they can use when deciding whether SolarLite could help them address a similar problem elsewhere.
Q. Why partner with LCRIG?
A. LCRIG understands the pressures local authorities face and creates learning opportunities for them to explore new approaches together. And, that’s exactly what we want this Challenge to achieve. The partnership helps us connect with authorities that have a problem to solve including those than may never have considered active road studs before. I think it will create an opportunity to share experience beyond the winning authorities. We all want the Challenge to lead to useful learning that others can act on.
Q. Why should authorities get involved now?
A. If you have a location in mind, you are half way there. It starts with your challenge we can develop the technical approach together. Let’s see whether we can turn that problem location into a scheme that makes a difference. I know your time is limited, and a clear focussed submission is all we really need.
About the Challenge
The SolarLite Local Authority Impact Challenge offers three authorities the opportunity to trial the technology, with up to 100 solar-powered road studs and standard installation provided to each successful applicant.
Register for Upcoming Webinars
Authorities interested in taking part are encouraged to register for a free CPD-accredited webinar on 3 or 10 November 2026, both running from 11am to midday, to learn more and ask questions.
Register for your FREE ‘CPD-accredited’ webinar
Applications close at 5pm on 30 November 2026.
If your authority has a challenging location where a different approach could make a difference, now is the time to explore the opportunity.