Summary of AASHTO Position Retroreflectivity levels should not be published as part of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Instead agencies should establish a process to provide reasonable nighttime visibility of traffic signs and pavement markings. Signs and pavement markings that do not provide reasonable nighttime visibility should be replace within a reasonable time.

Background

Retroreflective traffic control devices are widely used for nighttime visibility and safety. Congress in 1991 directed the U.S. Department of Transportation to establish “a standard for a minimum level of retroreflectivity that must be maintained for pavement markings and signs which apply to all roads open to the public travel.” Since that period of time there has been considerable research conducted in an attempt to establish these standards.

The results of the retroreflectivity research indicated the levels of retroreflectivity needed for visibility of signs and markings are not an exact science. Instead the values are subject to many factors such as weather, driver age, eye-height of the driver, vehicle type, and type of headlamps on the vehicle. With the US population aging, and vehicle and headlamps changing it is even more difficult to establish standard values for maintained retroreflectivity of signs and markings.

AASHTO concurs that it is desirable to maintain an adequate level of retroreflectivity for both traffic signs and pavement markings to enhance safety for motorists during hours of darkness and during adverse weather conditions. However there is concern about additional liability for transportation agencies if the proposed minimum levels of retroreflectivity values are established in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices

The efforts to assure adequate night visibility should not impose undue burdens on highway agencies, and to that end, AASHTO recommends that congress re-consider the requirement of putting such information in the MUTCD.

Instead the law should be changed to allow agencies to establish a management process to provide reasonably maintained nighttime visibility of traffic control devices. This process could use one or more of the following methods

• Nighttime inspections
• Sign and markings management system
• Sign Life Analysis
• Other methods as appropriate.

Recommendations for Legislation

Revise section 406(a) of the 1993 Department of Transportation Appropriations Act that required the Secretary of Transportation to revise the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices to include a standard for minimum level of retroreflectivity that must be maintained for traffic signs and pavement markings. These retroreflectivity levels should not be published as part of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Instead agencies should establish a process to provide reasonably maintained nighttime visibility of traffic signs and pavement markings. Signs and pavement markings that do not provide reasonably maintained nighttime visibility should be replaced within a reasonable time.

MINIMUM LEVELS OF RETROREFLECTIVITY

A minimum retroreflectivity standard for markings and signs should be set so that the necessary amount of light reflected back to the driver is sufficient to allow an older driver to navigate the roadway safely. ATSSA supports the timely publication of a final rule to establish minimum levels of retroreflectivity for signs and pavement markings in order to reduce the number of fatalities on our nation's highways.

S-13. Retroreflectivity of Traffic Control Devices

It is the policy of the Institute of Transportation Engineers to support efforts to assure that traffic control devices possess adequate retroreflectivity and are maintained to effectively perform their intended functions. The Institute supports coordinated research and development efforts to establish effective and practical minimum retroreflective field performance requirements for these traffic control devices.

Issue: Congress has required the Secretary of the U. S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to establish minimum levels of retroreflectivity. There is currently a rulemaking in progress regarding the establishment of minimum levels of retroreflectivity for sign faces and legend products.

Adopted Policy: The National Association of Counties (NACo) requests Congress to repeal the mandated standards for retroreflectivity and would recommend that such issues be left to the user organizations that are most knowledgeable of the issues concerning sign faces, sign legend products, and pavement markings. NACo urges county officials to comment in opposition to any USDOT rulemaking on mandatory standards of reflectivity.

Background: Several years ago Congress passed an amendment requiring the US Department of Transportation to establish minimum levels of reflectivity for highway signs. Counties believe they are performing adequately in this area without federal guidance and that sufficient information currently exists to allow states and local governments to provide reasonable and proper guidance, warning and traffic control for motorists. Furthermore, minimum level of retroreflectivity cannot be assured in the various climatic regions of the country where frost, snow and other environmental elements negatively impact retroreflectivity. If implemented, this would be an unfunded mandate.

Fiscal/Urban/Rural Impact: Significant but undetermined fiscal impact in both urban and rural counties.

WHEREAS, the U.S. Congress previously required the U. S. Secretary of D.O.T. to establish minimum levels of retroreflectivity on sign faces and pavement markings, and

WHEREAS, rule making is about to begin regarding the establishment of minimum levels of retroreflectivity for sign faces and legend products, and

WHEREAS, the cost/benefit ratio of implementing minimum retroreflectivity equates to yet another unfunded mandate for local governments, and

WHEREAS, a minimum level of retroreflectivity cannot be assured in the various climatic regions of the country where frost, snow and other environmental elements negatively impact retroreflectivity, and

WHEREAS, NACE is dedicated to the safety of the motoring public, and

WHEREAS, sufficient information currently exists to allow states and local governments to provide reasonable and proper guidance, warning and traffic control for the motorist.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that NACE opposes Congress mandating standards of retroreflectivity and would recommend that such issues be left to the user organizations that are most knowledgeable of the issues concerning sign faces, sign legend products, and pavements markings.