Status of the Proposed Minimum Reflectivity Standards for MUTCD Signs

by Garyn Perrett, Special Projects Manager & Field Engineer

from On the Move, Spring (March) Quarter 1999, Volume 12, Number 1

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)-proposed minimum reflectivity standards have caught the attention of industry and local agencies. Industry is looking to profit from the reflectivity standards while state and local agencies could potentially be vulnerable to lawsuits and increased costs. The proposed minimum reflectivity standards have been discussed and reviewed on many levels.

The proposed standards are in draft status, with no set time for distribution, nor solid reflectivity criteria set. The final format (guidelines, standards, management criteria, etc.) has not been determined. State and local agencies do not need to panic, but now is the time to get involved.

Currently, all the research with regards to the proposed minimum reflectivity standards has been completed. Additionally, the FHWA held four workshops and invited selected public officials to attend. The proposed minimum reflectivity standards were presented, and members of each workshop went out at night and observed several traffic signs.

After the public officials provided their feedback, the FHWA made some adjustments to the proposed minimum reflectivity standards. The adjusted standards were turned over to an AASHTO subcommittee last November, and AASHTO is now putting together a task force to analyze the proposed minimum reflectivity standards.

Many articles have been published and there is a lot of information available on the proposed minimum reflectivity standards. These articles can be persuasive and informative. An article entitled, "A Critical Evaluation of the FHWA Proposed Minimum Retroreflectance Requirements for Traffic Signs," was written as part of an LTAP sign management task force. Luminance of traffic control devices is a result of a three-part system: light source, retroreflector, and observer. This report states that more variables need to be considered as part of the minimum reflectivity standards such as additional sheeting types, age of observer, type of vehicle, and sign location (right, left, center, overhead, etc.).

Another thing that needs consideration is the liability associated with each class of traffic control device like warning versus guide marker versus regulatory. State and local agencies need to understand the issues involved, and take an active part in the development of these standards.

The proposed minimum reflectivity standards will likely take the following steps:

• The FHWA will review the recommendations from the AASHTO task force, and issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPR) by the end of this year.
• The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPR) will be listed on the Federal Register. Information regarding time frame, reflectivity values, and format (guidelines, standards, management criteria, etc.) will be published.
• State and local agencies will have time to comment and respond to the information.
• The FHWA will make any needed adjustments and set a time frame for implementation.

As this process unfolds state and local agencies need to be involved and provide feedback with regards to the minimum reflectivity standards. Minimum reflectivity values are not going to solve all sign management problems. All agencies need to keep the public interest in mind and focus on better sign management to increase safety and reduce liability.

The Utah T² Center is a good source of information for you on these proposed standards and on the input process. Please feel free to contact us at 1-800-822-8878.