How Brighter Traffic Signs Reduce Accidents

According to the Federal Highway Administration, approximately 42,000 people have been killed on U.S. roads each year for the last eight years. Even though only a quarter of travel occurs at night, about half of the traffic fatalities occur during nighttime hours. It is reasonable to assume that visible traffic signs could create safer driving conditions.

Maintaining traffic postings retro-reflectivity can help ensure that signs are always easily visible and recognizable on roads. This is why the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) established a new standard that now requires that all agencies adopt a sign maintenance program. By adopting a maintenance program, agencies will be able to meet new minimum retro-reflectivity requirements for traffic signs they've already installed.

Traffic Sign Compliance

Since Rubber Parking Wheel Stops Black/Yellow controlling postings are required to fulfill the roles of communicating regulatory, waing and guidance information at all times, MUTCD has developed a compliance plan to ensure retro-reflectivity maintenance.

• By January 2012, all agencies will have to establish and implement a sign maintenance program that addresses the minimum sign retro-reflectivity requirements. 
• By January 2015, all agencies must comply with the new retro-reflectivity requirements for most of their traffic signs installed. This includes all red and white or white and black regulatory postings, yellow and black waing postings, and ground-mounted green and white guide signs (excluding street name based postings). 
• By January 2018, all agencies must comply with the new retro-reflectivity requirements for overhead guide signs and all street name signs.