|
Home > Roadway Departure Safety
Nighttime Visibility
 About half of traffic fatalities occur at night, although only about one quarter of travel occurs after dark. Although intoxication and fatigue contribute to the high rate of nighttime crashes, nighttime driving is inherently hazardous because of decreased driver visibility.
Adequately maintained retroreflective signs and pavement markings improve highway safety and prevent roadway departure crashes by bouncing light from vehicle headlights back toward the vehicle and the driver's eyes, making the signs and markings appear brighter and easier to see and read.
Because the retroreflective properties of traffic control devices deteriorate over time, highway agencies need to actively manage the maintenance of signs and pavement markings in order to ensure that they are clearly visible at night.
NEW: Sign Upgrade Guide Specification
This generic specification was developed for your use as a template for a project to replace degraded traffic signs.
Nighttime Visibility Policy / Guidance
Under a new Federal rule that went into effect in January 2008, agencies have until January 2012 to establish and implement a sign assessment or management method that will maintain minimum levels of sign retroreflectivity. The compliance date for meeting the minimum retroreflectivity requirements for regulatory, warning, and ground-mounted guide signs is January 2015. Overhead guide signs and street name signs must be in compliance by January 2018.
Here’s where to find the Final Rule, along with many publications and presentations that provide explanations and guidance on implementation. The 2005 FHWA Guidance Memorandum on sign sheeting products also is posted on this page. Sign Visibility
This page contains technical guidance and research reports related to sign visibility. Pavement Markings Visibility
Click here for technical guidance and research reports related to pavement markings visibility.
|
