Road markings which illuminate to warn motorists of hazards ahead are being trialled on the M8 in Scotland.

The solar-powered road studs are linked to traffic control rooms and can be activated in the event of bad weather, an incident or queuing traffic.

They can guide drivers safely through reduced visibility caused by fog or mist and they can indicate when the hard shoulder is open for use, helping to reduce motorway hold-ups.

A section of the M8 between Glasgow and Edinburgh has been chosen as a trial site because it is prone to fog and used by an average of 51,000 vehicles each day.

The first set of road studs were installed in the Netherlands in 2004 and calculations there suggested the management system can increase the capacity of the motorway by 40%, as well as reducing accident rates.