AENOR motorway tests could increase driver safety in Spain

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• These pioneering tests have only been carried out by AENOR. The first test was carried out in 2012.

• Sections of road in the Generalitat Valenciana were chosen to test for improvements in road traffic safety.

1 October 2019. In order to comply with the regulations of the Construction Products Regulations (CPR), AENOR tests are being carried out to assess the durability of retro-reflective road studs for road marking, which are vital elements for road safety on Spanish roads.

These tests are not often carried out in Europe due to the time and resources involved. Despite the logistical challenge, AENOR was able to ensure reliable results aimed at increasing road safety with the use of products that comply with the current legislation, and which are designed to guide drivers and permit greater night-time visibility.

The field test consisted in the installation of 50 retro-reflective road studs on a road with specific characteristics (two two-lane motorways, a straight stretch, with the lowest longitudinal and transversal slope, without traffic lights or intersections), and which complied with a minimum Average Daily Intensity (ADI) of 5000 vehicles, of which between 10% and 25% were heavy vehicles.

The tests began last May and will take one year to complete. After this time, a daytime and night-time assessment will be carried out to show the condition of the retro-reflective road studs and to select those in which visibility during night-time conditions will be retested.

Carlos Alonso Bahamonde, AENOR auditor and director of the tests stated that "this is a serious commitment by AENOR to the improvement of road safety and the incorporation of new products onto the market. We are grateful to the Generalitat Valenciana for authorizing the installation of the products on their motorway."

The procedure is being carried out in order to obtain the European Conformity Mark (CE), which the certification required to market this type of product. The aim is to check if the optical properties of each element are maintained after a period of long use, with the result of safer roads.

To obtain the CE mark, retro-reflective road studs must comply with the standard UNE-EN 1463-1, relating to road marking materials. The process of obtaining the certification is set forth in the Construction Products Regulations, which includes various phases including a field test that can reliably establish the durability of the material. Once the CE mark has been awarded, an annual audit must be carried out on the production control system implemented by the manufacturer.