Procedural Integrity
For any method to yield reliable information in the sign management process, it must be based follow appropriate steps. Associated with each method is a series of procedures that will be needed to assure comprehensive, systematic, and reproducible assessments of night visibility of traffic signs on roads under an agency's jurisdiction. Each procedure will define the actions needed to carry out the method. For example, it may be appropriate to have a procedure for calibrating the retroreflectometer, logging the sections where sign inspections have taken place, and/or checking the headlight output of the inspection vehicle. Outlining the procedures will provide guidance to agencies in implementing programs to assure their compliance with the proposed new rules. The availability of procedures, is however, not sufficient to ensure effective implementation. Some of the procedures that may need to be developed include:
- Determining Headlight Type, Aiming, and Output
- Calibrating Retroreflectometers
- Logging Inspection Efforts
- Identify Subject Signs
- Comparing Field Measurements to Criteria
- Route Planning for Field Efforts
- Improvement Verification
- Replaced (Discarded) Sign Evaluation
- Selecting Sign Samples
- Taking Retroreflectivity Measurements
- Creating Work Orders for Replacements
- Analyzing Sign Replacement Costs
- Setting the Frequency of Inspections
- Repairing Traffic Signs for Night Visibility
- Assessing Marginal Signs
- Cleaning Traffic Signs to Improve Night Visibility
- Checking Nighttime Color Adequacy
- Coordinating Multiple Sign Assessment Criteria
- Determining Material Types
- Planning for Daily Operations
