Flashing road markers that warn motorists of icy roads are being given a second chance in Central Otago.
Central Otago District Council roading engineer Scott Graham said the new round of indicators, part of a nationwide trial with the New Zealand Transport Agency, were to be installed next week after battery issues with the devices installed last year.
Similar to cat's-eye road markers, they are called Pateyes.
They sit in the centre of the road line and flash blue when they detect ice on the road.
In the first round of trials, the council found the solar-powered devices ''struggled'' to hold up in Central's cold climate. In response, the maker of the new technology offered to provide new ''second-generation Pateyes'' free of charge to the council.
The new devices were trialled in Canada, could withstand temperatures to -40degC and were ''the bees' knees''.
''We are hoping to get them next week,'' Mr Graham said.
Last year, the council installed more than 70 of the moisture and temperature-sensitive devices around Earnscleugh Rd, Springvale and Dunstan intersection, and the Clyde and Bannockburn bridges area.
SolarBright business development manager John Bayliss said the technology indicated to motorists a high probability of ice forming on the road surface, even if it was dry.
''Preliminary results from the trials have revealed that the Pateyes have been really effective and have positively influenced the driving behaviour of motorists, with 82% of drivers slowing down when they encountered the flashing blue lights,'' he said.
Mr Graham said the council would watch the NZTA trial closely.
