Traffic Sign Retroreflectivity Issues (0-1796-S)

Traffic signs provide an ( important means of communicating information to road users, and they need to be visible to be effective. At night, sign visibility is provided through the use of retroreflective sign sheeting materials. Retroreflective sheeting redirects the light from a vehicle's headlamps back toward the vehicle. Without retroreflective properties, traffic control devices would be largely ineffective at night. The retroreflective performance characteristics of signs have become increasingly significant in recent years because of a dramatic increase in the choices of retroreflective material products with a range of performance levels and because of national efforts to develop guidelines for minimum levels of retroreflectivity for traffic signs. This project evaluated several different issues related to traffic sign retroreflectivity and used the information to help the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) address several different aspects of signing operations.