EFFECTIVENESS OF HEAVY TRUCK CONSPICUITY TREATMENTS UNDER DIFFERENT WEATHER CONDITIONS

The United States has had enhanced conspicuity standards for heavy trucks in place for over three years. The standards which were developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) dictate the use of retro-reflective tape as a means to primarily improve nighttime conspicuity. Effective January, 1997, Transport Canada has amended Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) #108 to adopt reciprocal standards. While both the Canadian and U.S. standards were based on the results of previous studies, little consideration was given to the effectiveness of different treatment patterns or colours under varying weather conditions. The University of New Brunswick has undertaken a series of truck conspicuity tests under different weather conditions including clear, rain, snow, and fog. The effectiveness of nine different conspicuity treatments for the rear of the trailer, and five for the side, were evaluated. A complete outline of solid white retro-reflective tape was found to be the most effective configuration to increase the threshold of visibility for the rear of the trailer under all weather conditions. The NHTSA configuration ranked no higher than fourth among the rear scenarios evaluated. A continuous stripe of white retro-reflective tape was found to be the most effective configuration to increase the threshold of visibility of the side of the trailer under three of the four weather conditions. The NHTSA configuration ranked the lowest of all side configurations considered under each weather condition.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was presented at the Canadian Multidisciplinary Road Safety Conference X, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, June 8-11, 1997.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of New Brunswick

  Transportation Group, P.O. Box 4400
  Fredericton, New Brunswick  Canada  E3B 5A3
• Authors:
  • Hildebrand, E D
  • Fullarton, P J
• Publication Date: 1997

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 11 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Color; Heavy vehicles; Perception; Shape; Trucks; Vehicle rear end; Visibility; Weather conditions
• Identifier Terms: Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
• Uncontrolled Terms: Configurations; Rear; Subjective analysis
• Geographic Terms: Canada; United States
• Old TRIS Terms: Canadian motor vehicle safety standards; Retroreflective tape; Sides; Thresholds (Perception)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Motor Carriers; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00748821
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 29 1998 12:00AM