Remembering motorway reflective stud colours (aka Cat’s Eyes) can be tricky but it’s essential for safe motorway driving. In this guide, we’ll break down a fun and effective way to memorise each colour and its meaning.

What are Motorway Stud Colours and Why are They Important?

Motorway reflective studs, known as “Cat’s Eyes,” are placed along UK motorways to aid drivers with lane visibility, particularly in low light or bad weather. Each colour is strategically positioned to indicate different parts of the motorway and specific traffic flow areas, helping drivers stay safe and aware. Let’s dive into the meaning behind each stud colour!

Remember with “MOTOR(G)WAY”! 🛣️

An easy trick is to remember "MOTOR(G)WAY" – simply add a ‘G’ between “motor” and “way,” and each letter links to a specific stud colour, making the meaning easier to recall!

• Red (R): Located between the hard shoulder and carriageway. Think of a red traffic light; it means stop! Only use the hard shoulder in emergencies.

• Green (G): Found between the carriageway and slip roads. Just like a green light, it signals go – guiding you on and off the motorway at entry and exit points.

• Amber (Y): Placed at the central reservation (the middle of the motorway) between the carriageways. This central position reminds you to stay in your lane, as amber mirrors the middle light in a traffic signal.

• White (W): Positioned between lanes, these studs mark lane boundaries, similar to white road lines. They help divide lanes and keep you aligned with other drivers.

• Yellow/Fluorescent Green: Used in contraflow systems and roadworks. Workers often wear high-vis jackets in this colour, signalling temporary or unusual traffic flows.

We’ve created a diagram as a visual aid to help you remember these key points.

The diagram above is inspired by Dorian from Driving Theory UK’s YouTube video on motorway reflective studs which we’ve added below. Dorian cleverly introduced a mnemonic device, which highlights that the initials of the stud colours are listed in sequential order in the letters RWA of motoRWAy.

The memory cues used to remember the demarcation indicated by each stud colour are inspired by Inclusive Driving’s YouTube video on reflective road studs, featured below, and TestBuddy’s blogpost on motorway studs.