Overview of FHWA Efforts/Response
In 1993, Congress issued the mandate in the Transportation Appropriation Act, which increased the urgency to establish minimum levels of retroreflectivity that must be maintained for traffic signs and pavement markings. The first proposed minimum levels for traffic signs resulting from an FHWA research effort were published in late 1993. Similar minimum levels for pavement markings were released in 1997. Over the next ten years the FHWA worked to solicit feedback on the proposed minimum levels, refine the values, expand the minimum to other TCDs, determine the economic impacts, and promote the development of methodologies and tools for agencies to implement processes and programs to maintain minimum levels of retroreflectivity for the millions of traffic signs and millions of miles of pavement markings on the nation’s highways.
In 1998, the FHWA agreed to hold its efforts to initiate rulemaking to change the MUTCD to establish formal standards for retroreflectivity to allow the AASHTO Special Task Force on Retroreflectivity to review the proposed rule. Over the course of the next two years, FHWA interacted with the Task Force to inform them of the process used to determine the proposed minimum levels, demonstrate the differences in night visibility, and listen to their concerns about implementation and fiscal impacts. Subsequently, FHWA has (1) re-examined the minimum levels proposed for traffic signs, (2) updated and expanded the minimum levels to reflect the nature of vehicles using the road, an aging driver population, and the effects of newer headlight technologies, (3) developed methods and procedures to aid agencies in implementing improved sign management processes, and (4) solicited feedback from the public and private sectors along the way. Similar steps are being undertaken for pavement markings as well. The FHWA has developed minimum requirements for sign retroreflectivity based on research and has recently finalized rulemaking to establish national standards. Work continues to develop similar requirements for pavement marking retroreflectivity. FHWA believes that highway safety will be enhanced by improved night visibility from increased sign and pavement marking retroreflectivity.
The FHWA has developed some draft research minimum requirements for sign retroreflectivity and it is proceeding with rule making to establish national standards. Work continues to develop similar requirements for pavement marking retroreflectivity. FHWA believes that highway safety will be enhanced by improved night visibility from increased sign and pavement marking retroreflectivity.
- Basic research to determine driver night visibility needs
- Development of technologies for field measurement of TCD retroreflectivity
- Sign Retroreflectivity Supporting Technologies
- Pavement Retroreflectivity Supporting Technologies
- Analyses of costs and benefits of alternative implementation schemes.
- Formulation of methods and procedures
- Sign Retroreflectivity Methods & Procedures
- Pavement Retroreflectivity Methods & Procedures
- Solicitation of feedback on the implementation of minimum levels
- Evaluation of the retroreflective properties of TCDs
More information on the nature of these efforts is provided in other parts of this website.
