THE EFFECTIVENESS OF RETROREFLECTIVE TAPE ON HEAVY TRAILERS

This report evaluates the effectiveness of retroreflective tape in enhancing the visibility of heavy trailers and reducing side and rear impacts by other vehicles into these trailers during dark conditions. It is based on a statistical analysis of 10,959 crash cases investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol and the Pennsylvania State Police in 1997-1999. The tape is quite effective. It reduced side and rear impacts into trailers, in dark conditions (including "dark-not-lighted," "dark-lighted," "dawn," and "dusk") by 29%. In "dark-not-lighted" conditions, the tape reduced side and rear impact crashes by 41%. Tape is especially effective in reducing injury crashes. In dark conditions, it reduced side and rear impacts that resulted in fatalities or injuries to drivers of any vehicle by 44%.

• Record URL:
  • http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/regrev/evaluate/pdf/809222.pdf
• Record URL:
  • https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/17000/17900/17990/PB2001105775.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Morgan, C
• Publication Date: 2001-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: 64 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Adhesive tape; Darkness; Dawn; Dusk; Fatalities; Heavy duty trucks; Injuries; Night; Prevention; Rear end crashes; Retroreflectivity; Side crashes; Tractor trailer combinations; Trailers; Visibility
• Geographic Terms: Florida; Pennsylvania
• Subject Areas: Highways; Motor Carriers; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; Vehicles and Equipment; I81: Accident Statistics; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00923418
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-809 222,, NHTSA Technical Report
• Files: HSL, NTL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Apr 9 2002 12:00AM