Decoding Cat’s Eyes: What the Different Colors Indicate.

Sep 16
17:18

2021

Nancy Whitman

Nancy Whitman

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Cat eyes are raised pavement markers that offer guidance during the rainy season and at night to motorists. Many times, you must have seen these cat eyes and wondered to yourself what they represent.

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Cat eyes are raised pavement markers that offer guidance during the rainy season and at night to motorists. Many times,Decoding Cat’s Eyes: What the Different Colors Indicate.  Articles you must have seen these cat eyes and wondered to yourself what they represent. 

Many people are unaware that there are technically five colors of cat eyes, and all five colors have specific purposes and different meanings. This article will teach you more things you need to know about cat eye colors and their various meanings. Read on to discover more. 

When was the Cat’s eyes design invented? 

The reflective road stud, known as “Cat’s eyes," was invented by English inventor and businessman Percy Shaw in 1934, United Kingdom. The idea came to the English inventor when he is driving home from the pub near his Yorkshire home on a foggy night. The short trip he had taken so many times took a different turn that night when the reflection of his car headlines on the tramlines that he relied on to help navigate the treacherous bends did not work because the tramlines had been taken away for repair. 

According to Percy Shaw, amidst the dark turmoil that lasted those moments, he noticed two distinct points of light- his headlights had caught the eyes of a cat that sat on the fence. His invention was called "The most brilliant invention ever produced in the interests of road safety."

Why do we use Cat's eyes on the road?

 

  • Special features:

 

To mark special features like fire hydrants, drains, and other forms of water supply. 

 

 

Cat's eyes are used as guidelines to ensure that motorists stay in their lanes and know when it is safe or not to overtake another vehicle. 

  • Tactile lane marking:

 

Cat's eyes are raised with pavement markers. This means that when you are driving over them, you will feel it through your vehicle steering and know that you are straying out of your lane. 

What do the different Cat’s eyes colors mean? 

Red Cat’s eyes

Red Cat's eyes are located on the left side of the road. They are used to augment the edge line on the hard shoulder of motorways and two-way highways. They indicate lines that should not be crossed.

Blue Cat’s eyes 

Blue Cat's eyes are used to identify water supply, fire hydrants, and slip roads. They also indicate pull-offs. Pull-offs mean that one of the three things must have occurred; an emergency stop for vehicle malfunctioning, for law enforcement officers, to stop drivers and issue citations, or there has been a crash and clearing/ evacuation is going on. 

White Cat’s eyes 

To mark the centerline of a double carriageway or single carriageway road. Drivers can use it to be sure of their position on the road and keep left. 

Green Cat’s eyes 

They indicate the edge of the main carriageway at lay-bys and slip roads. They are sometimes used to mark entrances and exits. 

Yellow Cat’s eyes 

When you see yellow Cat's eyes or road stud, it is an indication that you are not allowed to overtake. They are used to augment separation lines. Motorists are advised to travel on the left side of Yellow reflective road studs.