'Smart' road studs powered by solar energy could help to reduce congestion and improve safety on Britain's motorway network.

The company that makes the road studs, InterTraffic Systems BV, claims recent trials on the M8 in Scotland and motorways in the Netherlands have proved successful.

The studs are able to display different colours warning motorists of heavy traffic up ahead or direct them to use the hard shoulder as an additional lane.

"The system is performing brilliantly," the Dutch ministry of transport said in a statement.

"We feel that it is very easy for drivers to determine when the extra lane is open or not and there this is a very effective traffic management system."

The British government recently announced plans to extend a pilot scheme using the hard shoulder on motorways as an additional lane during heavy traffic.

In his Budget statement last week, chancellor Alistair Darling said that money would be allocated to looking at how technology could allow the rollout of road pricing and car sharing lanes.

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