FAQ

Not All In-Pavement Flashing Pedestrian Crosswalk Systems are Created Equal!
Flashing in-pavement markers, or IRWLs (In Road Warning Lights) started being installed over 15 years ago. Some systems were converted runway lights designed for airports where continual maintenance is expected and required. Others were (and still are) manufactured by small companies founded by entrepreneurial inventors who saw a new way to improve safety. The LaneLight LED enhanced flashing crosswalk system was designed by traffic product engineers and extensively tested prior to it’s release to the market.

Most states do not have set standards for in-road warning lights other than the guidelines in the MUTCD Section 4N, describing allowable locations, maximum marker height (less than 19mm or .75 inch), yellow color, flash rate, and marker placement. Do your homework to be sure you’re getting a flashing in-road warning system that will provide many years of trouble free service. Get in touch with several current users of the system(s) you’re considering to see how they have stood up in the roadway 1,2, or 3 years after the installation so you’re not caught in an unending cycle of repairs and light head replacements.

Design
A LaneLight marker has a very low profile (less than 6mm above the road surface) and optionally it can be installed flush with the road surface in snow plow regions. Competitive lightheads typically have a much taller profile leaving them more prone to damage from impact and more likely to be a trip hazard for the pedestrians you’re trying to keep safe. LaneLights have absolutely no plastic parts exposed to vehicle traffic and do not use any buried, inaccessible connectors. Many competitive systems require buried connections and have light heads that are primarily made of plastic making them more prone to failure.

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

Warranty
LaneLight systems come with a standard 5 YEAR warranty.

Real World Visibility
All In-Road Warning Light 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 over 3.5 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 at 3000ft, while many competitors are only visible up to 500ft.

Customer Satisfaction
Review other installations and make inquiries regarding performance and durability when you’re considering a LaneLight system to a competitor. LaneLights are extremely reliable and we work hard to ensure that all our customers are satisfied.

Simple Installation
There is NO trenching required. Each marker requires a simple 3 inch deep, 7 or 8 inch radius hole. The markers are connected to each other and to the controller by a 2 1/2 inch deep, 3/8 inch saw-cut similar to what you would use for a loop detector.

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.

NO Batteries
There are no batteries in LaneLight markers. Wireless in-road systems will require battery replacements so be sure to consider the ongoing maintenance costs associated with purchasing batteries or new heads, road closures, and the removal and re-installation process.

Wireless RF systems are also susceptible to interference that can come from many hidden sources, including underground power lines.

NO water issues
LaneLight marker 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 contains a water-blocking tape designed to prevent any water ingress into the conductors. The conductors themselves are a non-corroding, marine grade conductor.

Near Zero Maintenance
When correctly installed, LaneLight systems are designed and engineered to provide many years of trouble free service with little to no maintenance.