Determining Nighttime Driver Signing Needs

Project Description

TxDOT has sponsored research in the past that supports effective use of retroreflective sheeting for traffic signs. However, constant changes such as vehicle design (size and headlamps) and driver aging create a need to evaluate sheeting performance in terms of nighttime driver needs. This is especially needed as an increased number of different types of retroreflective sheetings becomes available. Instead of evaluating retroreflective sheeting materials as they enter the market, this project is intended to develop a nighttime driver needs specification for traffic signs. The intent is to provide users and industry with a performance-based specification that can be used to select and design the best available sheeting to meet the needs of nighttime drivers. This project is also intended to consider innovative signing materials such as electroluminescent or photoluminescent signing technologies. These materials will be considered in terms of factors such as costs, durability, and ability to meet the nighttime driver needs.

Project Publications

Development of a Model Performance-Based Sign Sheeting Specification Based on the Evaluation of Nighttime Traffic Signs Using Legibility and Eye-Tracker Data 0-5235-1-VOL1

Determining Nighttime Driver Signing Needs 0-5235-S

Development of a Model Performance-Based Sign Sheeting Specification Based on the Evaluation of Nightime Traffic Signs Using Legibility and Eye-Tracker Data: Data and Analyses 0-5235-1-VOL2

Texas Transportation Researcher Articles

How RETRO is your reflectivity? - Volume 40, Number 1

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