Minimum Retroreflectivity Levels for Overhead Guide Signs and Street-Name Signs
PUBLICATION NO. FHWA-RD-03-082
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U.S. Department of
Transportation
Federal Highway
Administration
Research, Development, and
Technology
Turner-Fairbank Highway
Research Center
6300 Georgetown Pike
McLean, VA 22101-2296
Foreword
Report FHWA-RD-03-082 presents the results of a study that investigated the nighttime visibility needs of drivers for viewing overhead guide signs and street name signs. This effort reviewed past research and current practices to design a series of field tests. Field experiments were conducted with drivers 55 years and older in which the headlight illumination was incrementally increased until they could correctly read the messages on the overhead signs. The results from these experiments provided the data needed to determine threshold levels of demand luminance necessary to meet driver needs. The researchers back calculated minimum sign retroreflectivity levels using information about the supply luminance associated with the various retroreflective sign materials and amounts of illumination provided. The research indicated that some combinations of sign materials were inadequate to meet driver needs given changes in the headlight design, legibility requirements, viewing position from larger vehicles, and other factors. Tables of recommended minimum retroreflectivity levels for overhead guide and street name signs were formulated from the data gathered in the research. These tables cover a subset of signs that had not been addressed in previous research.
It is important to note that this research was initially completed before the need for updates to the other previously developed tables of minimum levels of traffic sign retroreflectivity became apparent. Subsequently, another research effort was undertaken to determine the factors needing updating and to generate new tables. Following that updating effort, the contractor for this project reanalyzed the minimum levels for overhead guide and street name signs using updated inputs for vehicle dimensions, headlight characteristics, driver age, material performance, legibility, and other factors. The revised set of the tables for minimum retroreflectivity for overhead guide and street name signs is provided in Chapter 8 of this report.
Sufficient copies of this report have been produced to allow distribution to FHWA division offices, resources centers and each state highway agency. Copies can be requested from the FHWA Office of Safety or the Office of Safety R&D. In addition, this report is available on-line through the FHWA electronic library at http://www.tfhrc.gov/safety/safety.htm.
Michael Trentacoste
Director, Office of Safety R&D
Notice:
This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The United States Government assumes no liability for the contents or the use thereof. The report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation.
The United States Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade and manufacturers’ names appear in this report because they are considered essential to the object of the document.
Technical Report Documentation Page
1.
Report No.
FHWA-RD-03-082 |
2. Government Accession No. |
3.
Recipient's Catalog No. |
4. Title and
Subtitle
MINIMUM RETROREFLECTIVITY LEVELS FOR OVERHEAD GUIDE SIGNS
AND STREET-NAME SIGNS |
5.
Report Date
December 2003 |
6.
Performing Organization Code |
7.
Author(s)
Paul J. Carlson and H. Gene Hawkins, Jr. |
8.
Performing Organization Report No. |
9.
Performing Organization Name and Address
Texas
Transportation Institute
The
Texas A&M University System
College Station, TX 77843-3135
|
10.
Work Unit No. (TRAIS) |
11.
Contract or Grant No.
DTFH61-99-Q-00053 |
12.
Sponsoring Agency Name and AddressOffice
of Safety Research
and Development
Federal Highway Administration
6300
Georgetown Pike
McLean,
VA 22101-2296
|
13.
Type of Report and Period Covered Final
Report February
2000-June 2001 |
14.
Sponsoring Agency Code |
15.
Supplementary Notes
Contracting
Officer's Technical Representative (COTR): Ken Opiela, Office of Safety Research and Development, HRDS-05
|
16. Abstract
In 1993, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) published
research recommendations for minimum retroreflectivity (MR) levels for
traffic signs. The recommendations included overhead signs, but not
street-name signs. In revisions to the recommended MR levels in 1998, the
overhead signs were removed because of unresolved headlamp issues. Since
then, there have been changes in U.S. headlamp specifications that prompted
FHWA to initiate research to address MR levels for overhead guide signs and,
in order to fill a somewhat related void, street-name signs. The intent of
the research was to develop recommendations compatible with the 1998 revised
recommendations. This report describes the research activities and consequent
findings related to the development of MR levels for overhead guide signs and
street-name signs.
The research included a literature review of the pertinent
studies and available photometric models. This review initiated the
development of an analytical model to develop MR for overhead guide signs and
street-name signs. Using the findings from the literature review and a
state-of-the-practice survey, an initial set of MR levels was developed.
After an analysis of the initial recommendations, a field investigation was
initiated to determine the minimum luminance needed to read overhead guide
signs and street-name signs. Special emphasis was devoted to accommodating
older drivers. Once the minimum luminance values were determined, the
analytical model was used to develop a set of recommendations. The sensitivity
of key factors was studied to determine the most appropriate conditions under
which to establish MR levels. Once these analyses were completed and the
values of the key factors were established, the MR model was executed for the
final runs.
The initial results are summarized in three tables: one for
overhead guide signs, one for post-mounted street-name signs, and another for
overhead (mast-arm-mounted or span-wire-mounted) street-name signs. However,
these tables were superseded by additional research conducted after this
project was terminated. This additional research is summarized and the final
recommendations, which were consolidated into one table of MR levels for all
white-on-green signs, are presented. |
17.
Key Words
Traffic
control devices, overhead signs, street-name signs, retroreflectivity,
visibility, luminance.
|
18.
Distribution Statement
No
restrictions. This document is available to the public through the National
Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161.
|
19.
Security Classif. (of this report)
Unclassified
|
20.
Security Classif. (of this page)
Unclassified
|
21.
No. of Pages
118
|
22.
Price |
Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized
CHAPTER 7. INITIAL RECOMMENDATIONS
CHAPTER 8. FOLLOWUP RESEARCH
APPENDIX A. SURVEY OF CURRENT PRACTICES
APPENDIX B. MODELING PROCESS
REFERENCES
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1. Questions Included in
Transportation Agency E-Mail Survey
Figure 2. Weathering Degradation of Retroreflective
Sheeting
Figure 3. Overhead Sign Retroreflectivity Values
Figure 4. Layout of Overhead Sign Panel and Legend
Figure 5. Supplied Legend Luminance Graphs
Figure 6. Ford Taurus Headlamp Output
Figure 7. Control Box
Figure 8. Aiming Laser
Figure 9. Laser Location
Figure 10. Use of Laser for Aiming
Figure 11. Luminance Readings
Figure 12. Chromaticity Color Shift (CIE, 1931)
Figure 13. Closeup Chromaticity Color Shift (CIE,
1931)
Figure 14. Color Temperature Shift
Figure 15. Test Course
Figure 16. Overhead Sign
Figure 17. Street-Name Sign
Figure 18. Overhead Sign Results
Figure 19. Street-Name Sign Results
Figure 20. Results for Overhead Signs
Figure 21. Results for Street-Name Signs
Figure 22. Isocandela Plots of CARTS50 (Top) and
UMTRI25PC Headlamp
Figure 23. E-mail Survey Sent to State and Local
Transportation Agencies
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1. Legibility Factors.
Table 2. Types of Retroreflective Sheeting
Table 3. Sign Dimension Conversions.
Table 4. Replacement Luminance Values.
Table 5. Recommended SIA Values for Green Background Areas of Overhead Guide Signs.
Table 6. MR for White Signs.
Table 7. MR Guidelines for Signs with Green Backgrounds.
Table 8. Headlamp and Driver's Eye Height
Table 9. List of Transportation Agencies That Responded.
Table 10. State Agency Responses to Overhead Sign Questions.
Table 11. Local Agency Responses to Overhead Sign Questions.
Table 12. State Agency Responses to Street-Name Sign Questions.
Table 13. Local Agency Responses to Street-Name Sign Questions.
Table 14. Average RA of New White Sheeting.
Table 15. Test Words.
Table 16. Supplied Legend Luminance Values (cd/m2)
Table 17. Subject Information.
Table 18. Threshold Luminance Values by Accommodation Level (cd/m2)
Table 19. Replacement Luminance Values.
Table 20. Initial MR Levels for Overhead Guide Signs (50-Percent Accommodation)
Table 21. Initial MR Levels for Post-Mounted Street-Name Signs (50-Percent Accommodation)
Table 22. Initial MR Levels for Overhead Street-Name Signs (50-Percent Accommodation)
Table 23. Comparison of Headlamp Profiles for Overhead Signs.
Table 24. Comparison of Headlamp Profiles For Right-Shoulder-Mounted Signs.
Table 25. Comparison of Headlamp Profiles for Left-Shoulder-Mounted Signs.
Table 26. Roadway Illuminance Measurements (in lux)
Table 27. Comparison of Specific Vehicles.
Table 28. Illuminance Data for Left-Shoulder-Mounted Signs.
Table 29. Minimum Overhead Retroreflectivity Levels (50-Percent Accommodation)
Table 30. Vehicle Dimensions.
Table 31. Vehicle Impacts on Overhead Guide Sign MR Levels.
Table 32. Average RA of New Unweathered Sheeting.
Table 33. Overhead Guide Signs.
Table 34. Post-Mounted Street-Name Signs.
Table 35. Overhead Street-Name Signs.
Table 36. Updated Vehicle Dimensions.
Table 37. Initial MR Levels for Overhead Guide Signs(cd/lx/m2)
Table 38. Assumed Characteristics and Criteria for Street-Name Signs.
Table 39. Initial MR Levels for Street-Name Signs (cd/lx/m2)
Table 40. Research Recommendations for Updated MR Levels.
Table 41. Overhead Sign Example.
Table 42. Example MR Calculations.
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