'Smart' cats-eyes light up night drives

4 April 2002: A British inventor has designed solar powered cat's eyes which switch on during fog and turn red when a driver is too close to the car in front.

They can be seen from 950 yards away compared with 95 yards for a standard cat's eye.

They measure the amount of moisture in the air and light up using stored solar energy. At night they detect approaching headlights.

The system was designed by a former London fireman and his invention may allow him to float his company on the stock market for almosy 200 million euros. There has already been interest from Holland, France and Australia.

©2002irishcar.com

April 2002