Pavement Marking Visibility Requirements During Wet Night Conditions

Author : Ronald Bruce Gibbons
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 72 pages
Book Rating : 4.73/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Pavement Marking Visibility Requirements During Wet Night Conditions written by Ronald Bruce Gibbons and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 72 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This study investigated the performance of pavement markings in wet night conditions. Typically, performance will decrease in wet conditions. The degradation is a result of flooding of the marking optics and a change in the optical media, thereby reducing retroreflectivity and the visibility distance. Several technologies are available to improve the visibility of markings under wet conditions. This study used four technologies and evaluated them in a dynamic situation. In the experiment, vehicles were driven by older participants and visibility was measured based on the detection distances of the beginning or ending of a continuous edge marking. The results indicate that a specifically designed wet retroreflective tape performed better than the currently used paint and glass bead technology. Paint with large glass beads and profiled thermoplastics also showed an improvement over the standard paint and glass bead technology. A relationship between retroreflectivity and the detection distance was found, which was used to postulate a minimum required value for visibility during wet night conditions. A value of 200 mcd/m2/lx appears to provide a reasonable detection distance for a minimum performance requirement.

Author : Benjamin H. Cottrell
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 4 pages
Book Rating : 4.85/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Pavement Markings for Improved Visibility During Wet Night Conditions written by Benjamin H. Cottrell and published by . This book was released on 1996 with total page 4 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Author : Ronald Bruce Gibbons
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 24 pages
Book Rating : 4.94/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Wet Night Visibility of Pavement Markings written by Ronald Bruce Gibbons and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page 24 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This executive summary describes an investigation into the performance of pavement markings in wet night conditions. The performance of a typical pavement marking will degrade when it gets wet. This is a result of the flooding of the marking optics, thereby reducing retroreflectivity. Several technologies are available to improve wet marking performance. In this project, six technologies were tested using both standard measurement methods and participant evaluations. The results show that two of the marking technologies, raised retroreflective markers and wet retroreflective tape, outperformed the group under all conditions. These markings were also highly accepted by the participants. The results also show that the standard paint and glass beads technology is the worst performing and the least desirable of those evaluated. A comparison of the ASTM retroreflectivity measurement methods and the measured luminance results also indicates that the methods are suitable for the conditions used in the evaluation; however, possible additions and corrections to the methods are outlined in this report. A follow-up study is underway to allow development of a performance-based specification for pavement markings for wet night visibility.

Author : Benjamin H. Cottrell
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 28 pages
Book Rating : 4.09/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Evaluation of Pavement Markings for Improved Visibility During Wet Night Conditions written by Benjamin H. Cottrell and published by . This book was released on 1996 with total page 28 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This study evaluated the night visibility of waffle tape and paint with large beads, particularly during wet night conditions. Data were collected at two sites along a primary arterial. The evaluation included an examination of (1) the application of the markings, (2) the visibility of the markings using retroreflectometer measurements and subjective assessments, and (3) the costeffectiveness of the markings. The study revealed: (1) compared with paint with standard beads, the waffle tape and paint with large beads were slightly more retroreflective during light rain at night and recovered quicker after flooding out, (2) the marginal improvement in visibility during periods of light rain do not offset the operational problems of applying paint with large beads, and (3) the benefits of waffle tape during light rain do not appear to justify its use solely for wet night visibility. Because of the above findings, snowplowable raised pavement markers, which are very visible in wet night conditions, appear to be more cost-effective. The study recommends that (1) VDOT continue to use and maimain snowplowable raised pavement markers for visibility during wet night conditions, (2) VDOT continue to monitor FHWA's study on all weather pavement markings, and (3) the Suffolk District consider testing nonsnowplowable raised pavement markers to assess their use as a low-cost alternative to improve visibility during wet night conditions where snowplowing occurs infrequently.

Author : L. Ellis King
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 4 pages
Book Rating : 4.64/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Evaluation of Pavement Marking Materials for Wet Night Conditions written by L. Ellis King and published by . This book was released on 1989 with total page 4 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Author : Ronald Bruce Gibbons
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 47 pages
Book Rating : 4.69/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Assessment of the Durability of Wet Night Visible Pavement Markings written by Ronald Bruce Gibbons and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 47 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This project encompassed a research effort to establish the durability of pavement markings in an on-road installation. Six marking technologies were installed on a portion of Route 460 in Blacksburg, Virginia. A human factors experiment in natural rain conditions was performed to establish the visibility needs of the driver. The retroreflectivity of the markings was measured at intervals of 2 to 5 months, with six measurements over the course of 23 months. The numbers of snow plow crossings and chemical treatments were also measured. Although all markings lost a considerable amount of retroreflectivity after the first winter, the markings installed in grooves or in rumble strips were shown to retain more retroreflectivity and receive less damage than markings installed on the surface of the roadway. Twenty-three months after installation, the retroreflectivity for all markings in active rain conditions had dropped below the 150 mcd/m2/lx minimum recommended from previous research. The reflective tape was the closest to maintaining the minimum with a mean retroreflectivity of 137mcd/m2/lx in 1 in/hr rain. Several other markings maintained a retroreflectivity above 84 mcd/m2/lx; this may still provide a benefit over standard paint. The study recommends that VDOT's Traffic Engineering Division install pavement markings in grooves or in rumble strips. VDOT will determine where the use of grooves or rumble strips is appropriate. Because pavement marking visibility is more critical for high-speed roadways such as interstate roadways and major arterials, these roads should be the highest priority. Grooved markings may also be desired for high-volume roadways where markings may be exposed to higher levels of wear from traffic. The study markings on Route 460 in Blacksburg should be monitored for two more years. The study team should make the measurements after each winter through 2013 and report the findings to VDOT in a brief report. VDOT staff should perform additional cost-benefit analyses to address standard VDOT policy, procedures, and practices and possible supplier warranties.

Author : Misty A. Boos
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 14 pages
Book Rating : 4.65/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Durable, Retroreflective Pavement Markings and Markers Increase Visibility for Drivers in Wet, Night Conditions written by Misty A. Boos and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 14 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Increasing retroreflectivity of markings during rainy, foggy, nighttime conditions is a major challenge. Research has shown that pavement markings reduce crashes at night on dry pavement, but not at night on wet pavement. (Migletz, 2002 pg. 6) Because of the need to improve visibility for drivers under adverse conditions, recent research (2000 to the present) has been targeted toward understanding visibility needs and developing minimum retroreflectivity specifications for different driver groups under different environmental conditions. Research on this topic has been compiled in this RSB in section II: "Wet Night Visibility of Pavement Markings." Increased retroreflectivity performance in wet, night conditions may help to reduce fatalities, but ensuring and defining this improved performance includes a particular set of challenges. For example, "Pavement marking retroreflectivity under wet pavement conditions averaged only 46% of the comparable values under dry pavement conditions. For example, to achieve a wet pavement retroreflectivity of 150 mcd/m2/lux, the marking would need a dry-pavement retroreflectivity of 326 mcd/m2/lux." (Migletz, 2002 pg. 2) Challenges to improving retroreflectivity performance mentioned in recent research include: Type of material and installation methods; Service life, durability and cost of durable materials; Damage to materials by forces such as weather and traffic wear; Setting minimum reflectivity standards (as cited in the MUTCD 2003 and/or by state DOTs); Developing strategies and tools to measure retroreflectivity; Marking and marker installation issues including increasing shortages of skilled workers for installation and maintenance; Location of installation, climate and traffic load on roadway; Funding and standards for maintenance; Many new technologies entering the market, each requiring evaluation; Environmental regulations; Product acceptance and approval; Driver needs (including differing needs based on driver age and time of day); Vehicle type and the visibility concerns of trucks vs. cars. The durability and service life of retroreflective materials is of particular concern because the service life of some pavement markings and markers can be very short (as little as 6 months in some cases). When these markings fail or their reflectivity is reduced drivers experience difficulty seeing the road. (Migletz, 2002). The following organizations have explored the durability or service-life of pavement markers and markings. Their work can be found in section I: "Durability of Retroreflective Pavement Markings, Markers": Texas Transportation Institute (TTI); Virginia Transportation Research Council (VTRC); Federal Highway Administration (FHWA); New Jersey DOT; Alabama DOT; Oregon DOT; Florida DOT; Georgia DOT; Indiana DOT; American Society of Civil Engineers; ARRB Group Ltd. The following organizations have proposed research into retroreflectivity or wet, nighttime driving conditions. Their proposals can be found in this RSB Section III: "Research in Progress": Oregon State University; Iowa State University; Mississippi State University; North Dakota DOT; Pennsylvania DOT. When durable, retroreflective pavement markings are properly selected for a site and installed and maintained correctly they can help drivers navigate in wet night conditions and they have the potential to decrease traffic fatalities. Research, listed in the following pages, provides an overview of current work, but much exploration remains to be done on this complex issue.

Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 120 pages
Book Rating : 4.57/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Evaluation of Wet-weather Pavement Markings written by and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 120 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report details the first year of a two-year project. During the first year the emphasis was on determining the wet-night visibility of various pavement marking systems under a variety of realistic rainfall levels. The researchers performed a literature review. They analyzed 20 years of Texas rainfall data to determine the most appropriate rainfall levels to use as design criteria for a rain tunnel. Using a low, medium, and high rainfall rate (0.28, 0.52, and 0.87 in. per hour, respectively), a 1600 ft long rain tunnel was designed and built at Texas A & M University's Riverside Campus. Experimental subjects drove through the rain tunnel and looked for pavement markings simulating skip lines. The researchers rotated pavement marking samples at different locations before each trial. The detection distance was recorded when the subject located the pavement marking sample. The data were analyzed in four main sections: waterborne paints, thermoplastics, tapes, and exotic materials. The analysis also included investigations into the wet-night visibility of rumble stripes, as well as wider lines. The measured dry and wet retroreflectivity measurements were analyzed, and the predictive capabilities of the wet retroreflectivity measurements were evaluated with respect to the wet-night detection distance of the markings.

Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 162 pages
Book Rating : 4.46/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Evaluation of Wet-weather and Contrast Pavement Markings Applications written by and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 162 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report contains the Phase II effort on wet-night pavement markings, a benefit-cost analysis, and a study of contrast markings. Phase II effort consisted of expanding the study design from Phase I to include additional wet-night pavement marking products, the effects of glare and dry pavement on detection distances, and a benefit-cost analysis with respect to the use of different pavement marking systems to accommodate drivers under wet-night conditions.

Author : Ronald Bruce Gibbons
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 116 pages
Book Rating : 4.02/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Wet Night Visibility of Pavement Markings written by Ronald Bruce Gibbons and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page 116 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report describes an investigation into the performance of pavement markings in wet night conditions. The performance of a typical pavement marking will degrade when it gets wet. This is a result of the flooding of the marking optics, thereby reducing retroreflectivity. Several technologies are available to improve wet marking performance. In this project, six technologies were tested using both standard measurement methods and participant evaluations. The results show that two of the marking technologies, raised retroreflective markers and wet retroreflective tape, outperformed the group under all conditions. These markings were also highly accepted by the participants. The results also show that the standard paint and glass beads technology is the worst performing and the least desirable of those evaluated. A comparison of the ASTM retroreflectivity measurement methods and the measured luminance results also indicates that the methods are suitable for the conditions used in the evaluation; however, possible additions and corrections to the methods are outlined in this report. A follow-up study is underway to allow development of a performance-based specification for pavement markings for wet night visibility.