Dangerous Cats eye's!

[///Mike]

Is it just me or has anyone else noticed the growing number of smashed cats eyes on the M4 and A34 specifically in Berkshire. Maybe its a wider issue nationwide but this is where I have seen it most.

I have recently started a new job which involves a lot more driving up and down the M4 between Newbury and London than I used to do. There are an incredible amount of cats eyes that are smashed to pieces with large shards standing upright. I am conscious of the issue now so every time I look to change lanes the first thing I check is the lines I will be crossing. On a few occasions I have had to swerve to avoid them.

I recently swapped the run flats on my car for proper tyres and I am just waiting for the moment where I regret that decision due to the fact that there is a new problem. It definitely is a new problem too, I have driven this stretch of road for the last 4.5 years and never noticed them before.

Its most likely down to government cuts but I think they are genuinely dangerous. Having a blowout at 80-90mph could be catastrophic and these things look like knives sticking out of the tarmac!

Has anyone else noticed this or have I just got out of the wrong side of my bed this morning?

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

Knives? Are they not made from rubber?

[///Mike]

Ray Luxury-Yacht said:

Knives? Are they not made from rubber?

I don't know? If they are then I have nothing to worry about but they look bloody sharp and I don't fancy running over one to find out.

[MadRob6]

Pretty sure they're made of rubber. Found one at the side of the road years ago and it was pretty squidgy so stop panicking!

[freecar]

They're made out of rubber, moreover they're designed to be run over as the rubber top pops down and the cat's eye gets cleaned by a squeegee.

[kambites]

The apostrophe police will be along shortly.

As above, I don't think they are anything to worry about.

[Graebob]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat's_eye_(road) yes they are made from rubber Clever little things too!

[10 Pence Short]

Never mind the cats eyes. What about the white lines? They have defined edges all around them. They're like white razor blades.

This must be a problem throughout the world. Something must be done.

[///Mike]

Well thats that cleared up then, panic over lol.

They just look dangerous then.

[carreauchompeur]

10 Pence Short said:

Never mind the cats eyes. What about the white lines? They have defined edges all around them. They're like white razor blades.

This must be a problem throughout the world. Something must be done.

The children! The children!

[8400rpm]

///Mike said:

Well thats that cleared up then, panic over lol.

They just look dangerous then.

Yea, they're squidgy rubber.

The only thing you should be concerned about, is if the entire cast iron unit which holds the rubber, breaks out of the road. THEN you should panic.

[Mr GrimNasty]

But they are sometimes (or always?) set in cast iron 'pockets', or have metal bases/reinforcement in the rubber, and when they get badly lifted/smashed up, yes the broken metal does stick up like knives. Blame the over heavy lorries.

[MadRob6]

8400rpm said:

The only thing you should be concerned about, is if the entire cast iron unit which holds the rubber, breaks out of the road. THEN you should panic.

Because they're coming to get you!

/dons tin foil hat

[///Mike]

LOL Pi$$ takers. Fair enough.

I am pretty sure that the inner reflectors are not made of rubber though and if you didn't know they were made out of rubber I should imagine a reasonable person would understand my concern.

[Graebob]

I totally understand it. They do look pretty grim when they're mangled, and the last thing you'd want is to have a tyre blowout just because you thought "hey that looks pretty safe I'll just drive over it".

[Mr GrimNasty]

Already told you - the cast iron pockets sometimes lift & shatter & are dangerous then.

[8400rpm]

///Mike said:

LOL Pi$$ takers. Fair enough.

I am pretty sure that the inner reflectors are not made of rubber though and if you didn't know they were made out of rubber I should imagine a reasonable person would understand my concern.

The inner reflectors are little glass balls.

[Mr Gear]

8400rpm said:

///Mike said:

Well thats that cleared up then, panic over lol.

They just look dangerous then.

Yea, they're squidgy rubber.

The only thing you should be concerned about, is if the entire cast iron unit which holds the rubber, breaks out of the road. THEN you should panic.

I'm not quite sure "panic" is the right word, but my friend tore a motorbike tyre open on a catseye about 5 years ago.

[XG332]

Yea they are rubber coated, i use one for a door stop at home.

[emicen]

8400rpm said:

///Mike said:

Well thats that cleared up then, panic over lol.

They just look dangerous then.

Yea, they're squidgy rubber.

The only thing you should be concerned about, is if the entire cast iron unit which holds the rubber, breaks out of the road. THEN you should panic.

Lad that I know ripped one out the ground as he went over it braking heavily for a roundabout. Made quite a racket as it bundled along the underside of the car.