See and be Seen

Dr S M Bhagat
&
Dr S M Sarin
Common type of road crashes
Safety and Visibility issues related to
 Reflective Road Signs
 Reflective Raised Pavement Markers
 Reflective Road Markings
 Glare
 Reflective Clothing
 Reflective Conspicuity Tapes
 Street Lighting
 Delineators
 Work Zones during Night Time
 Increase in visibility means more reaction time which in turn
leads reduction in chances of collision

 Daylight - Bright colors are more visible than dull colors

under daylight condition

 Low light conditions - Fluorescent colors are more effective

than bright colors under low light (e.g. dawn and dusk).

 Dark conditions (In Night ) – Retro reflective materials

provides greater retro reflectivity and provides more visibility
in night.
 Fluorescent materials are ineffective at night and less visible
than white fabrics.
 Poor lighting decrease visibility.
 Problem of glare which increase in distraction
level.
 At night , field of vision narrows down only to
the area illuminated by head light which is 80-
100m only in front of the motor vehicle.
 Headlights can not follow the curves and dips
which create blind spots to motorists.
 Eye fatigue causes lack in alertness.
 Inaccurate judgment in speed and distance of
other vehicle may lead to an accident.
 Stray animals are serious hazard during night
time.
Luminance
What the Driver Sees
Engineering Grade Sheet High Intensity Grade Sheet

Microprismatic Grade Sheet

Glass Bead Technology
Microprism Technology
Travel speed, stopping distance and crash
impact speed
Importance of Early Detection of Road-
Sign
Short wavelength light Ordinary
is absorbed by sign.

Short wavelength light Fluorescent

is reemitted as longer
wavelength light.
 Fluorescent Standard
Orange Orange

Fluorescent Standard
Yellow-Green Yellow

Fluorescent Standard
Yellow Yellow
 Road signage to be as effective as possible.
 It is important that sign be visible to all road users
this criteria should be considered during the
material design and specification stages.

It has been established that for sign reading
distances, the observation and entrance angles
(covering all road users) and the retro-reflective
brightness are important factors that effect sign

visibility.
Keeping this in mind, signage materials should be
specified to deliver in bulk . Retro-reflectivity
should be within the range to benefit all road
users
 Raised Pavement Marker (RPM) should be
bright enough to illuminate road surface.
 RPM should be tough enough to bear the load
of vehicle when it passes over it.
 Reflection in RPM either occurs by reflecting
lens or by beads.
 LED based solar RPM have built in sensor that
can automatically turn on LED’s when ambient
light drops below the preset level.
 RPM are placed on centerline to provide more
guidance to traffic.
 RPM placed on edge line warn the driver that they
are more nearing the edge.
 Improve the sight distance when placed on vertical
/ horizontal curve on the road or near the
intersection.
 RPM works as traffic delineators to improve
drivers sight distance.
 RPM placed on dangerous curve are more visible.
 RPM when placed close together in rows form
rumble strip.
 Most commonly used material is Thermoplastic
material (TPM).
 It can easily be made reflective either by pre-
mixing or by dropping glass beads with the
material.
 The headlight beam penetrates glass beads hits the
pigmented road surface and reflect the light back
to the motorist.
 Visibility is based on the contrast between
illuminated strip and dark road surface.
 Threshold reflectivity values are
100mcd/sq.m/lux.
 Reflective markings
are visible all the time
even in worst weather
conditions.
 Thicker layer of TPM
works as rumble strip.
 TPM are more cost
effective due to longer
life, no need to paint
the road surface
frequently.
Glare is sensation caused by bright light
in one’s own field of view
• Discomfort by viewing oncoming vehicle
headlamp
• Discomfort in viewing rear view mirror
• Decrease in visibility distance and increase
reaction time and recovery time
• Distraction in driving, Drift slightly from line
of sight, annoyance, slowing the vehicle.
• Head light Intensity
• Headlight Mounting Height
• Age of driver
• Two way Highway without median increases glare
 effect
• Unlit road have more glare effect
• Improper mounting of headlamp
• Absence of Road Marking
• Highway without Median as oncoming vehicle
come more closer to driver’s line sight
 Dirt on headlamp and wind shield increase scattering of light
 It is a screening device which can block the light
coming from head lamp of oncoming traffic.
 It is to be placed at the locations where shrubs
and trees can not block the light.
 On many sections of highways, there are areas
where service roads, ramps, narrow medians, and
other roadside characteristics cause direct vehicle
headlight cause glare. There is need of anti glare
 The
screenheight of anti glare Screen should be such that
it can block light coming from top of headlamp of
highest vehicle and from bottom it should be high
enough to block light coming from lamp of vehicle
of lowest height
--Any clothing worn that has highly reflective
properties or a color that is easily discernible
from any background.
---It is worn by occupational workers (Traffic
police Personals, Construction workers of
Highways, Railways etc.) or by the persons
moving near the vehicles (Cyclist, Pedestrians).
Workers wear to improve how well other
people "see" them.
 Increase Safety at Work; As human eye
responds best to large contrasting, bright
moving objects so Drivers of vehicles can easily
see workers even under low light and poor
visibility conditions.
 Reflective clothing are also helpful under
extreme weather conditions (Fog, Rain, Snow,
Overcast sky).
Fluorescent material takes a portion of invisible
ultraviolet light from sunlight and through the special
pigments it sends back to the more light to viewer .
These material functions only where there is natural
sunlight.
-- This property enhance day visibility at dawn and dusk
-- Fluorescent material appear brighter than the same
colored non fluorescent material.
-- Fluorescent provide greater contrast against most of
the backgrounds
--- Retro reflective material attached to Fluorescent
material improve visibility during night time.
 Reflective tapes are self illuminating and does
not power from vehicle like tail lamp. Any
light is enough to illuminate the strip make
your vehicle more visible and safe.
 Rear end collisions occur when driver could
not see a slower vehicle or stopped vehicle in
front of it and could not stop the vehicle in
time, use of reflective tape in any pattern or
color can reduce the chances of accidents.
 A street light or street lamp is a raised source of
light often mounted on a lamp column or pole.
 It is on the road or within the median, or
suspended on a wire above the road to provide
illumination.
 It provides illumination on the
street/midblock road /Intersection .
 It improves safety of pedestrians, particularly
at crossing points .
. Even illumination on roads be maintained for which regular
maintenance work should carried out.

. Lamp post should not be sited in positions where there is danger to

vehicle and be protected by crash barrier depending upon the
situations.

. Lighting should be provided at important locations such as

Intersections or where pedestrian cross mostly.

. Sodium Light is more effective than mercury or tungsten light but is

costly .
. Lighting Column should not act as an obstacle and should not be
close to Kerb edge.

. Frangible post should be used where ever possible

 Delineators provide visual
assistance to drivers about
alignment of road ahead,
especially at night.

 Normally, reflectors are used

on the delineators for better
night time visibility.

 Delineators are driving aids

and not be regarded as a
substitute for warning signs,
road markings, or barriers .
1 HAZARD MARKER
 These are put-up wherever
there are objects so close to
the road hazard, e.g.
approaches to bridge
abutments, guard-rails and
culverts

The markers should be
erected immediately ahead
of the line of obstruction
with sufficient height so
that properly visible to the
oncoming traffic.
 Roadway Indicators
Delineate the edge of the
roadway to guide drivers
about the alignment ahead
used in non-urban sections,
especially in curved portions
and on straight sections at
medians or kerb edge.
where a guard-rail or parapet
wall is provided, roadway
indicators may be mounted
above or immediately
behind the guard-rail
 Object Markers:
Indicate hazards and obstructions
within the vehicle flow path

Used at Traffic islands of

intersections, Around periphery
of rotary islands, Median opening.
Points where traffic divides into
different directions e.g. down
ramps of a grade separated
intersection and at street dead
ends.
 Curved Sections along the radius
 Approaches to narrow bridges and culverts
 Valley side of hill roads
 Road embankments exceeding 3 m in height
 Road sections where visibility is often poor
 On hill roads, placed on the parapet or edge of
the shoulder
 At straight road spaced uniformly 50-70 m
from each other
1 Length of Advance warning zones
For speed<50 km/h= 100m (Termination of Transition Zone)
For speed 51-80 km/h= 100-300
For speed 81-100 km/h=300-500m

2 Length of Transition zones (Work Zone)

For speed<50 km/h= 50m
For speed 51-80 km/h=50-100m
For speed 81-100 km/h=100-200m
(Approach Transition Zone )

(Advance warning Zone)

Work Zone Safety

Accidents involving workers with

equipments, vehicles with
Pedestrians, Pedestrians with the
objects etc.
Traffic Control Plan

Traffic Control Devices

Reflective Cones, barrels, and

barriers etc. to delineate areas of
work zone
 Reflective Sheets
IRC standard for Road Signs IRC:67-2012and Clause no.801 &
802 of Specification for of Road and Bridge works
published by MoRTH.
 Reflective Road Markings
IRC standard for Road Markings IRC:35-2015 and
Clause no.803 of Specification for of Road and Bridge works
published by MoRTH.
 Reflective Pavement Markers
IRC standard for Road Markings IRC:35-2015 and
Clause no.804 of Specification for of Road and Bridge works
published by MoRTH.
Question 1: Which type of reflective sheet is more visible from longer
distance ?
Ans. : (a) Engineering Grade (b) High Intensity Grade (c) Micro-
Prismatic Grade.
Question 2: Which type of signs are more helpful in fog and rainy
conditions ?
Ans.: (a) Painted Signs (b) Reltro -Reflective Signs (c) Fluorescent Signs.

Question 3 : Which reflection of light enhance visibility more?

Ans.: (a) Diffuse Refection (b) Mirror Reflection(c) Retro-Reflection.

Question 4: In rainy season which markings help most in night ?

Ans.: (a) painted (b) Reflective (c) Road Stud .

Question 5; Glare effects more to

Answer: (a) Young Drivers (b) Middle aged Drivers (c) Old Drivers.

Question 6 Which thing enhance visibility more in night time ?

Answer; (a) Road Markings (b) Road Signs (c) Painted Signs.
Question 7: Which statement is false ?
(a) Delineator with road signs (b) Delineator with road markings (c)
Delineator without signs and markings.

Question 8: Which thing will improve more rare end visibility of

vehicles ?
(a)Reflectors (b) Tail lamp (c) Conspicuity Tape

Question 9: Which type of clothes cyclist / pedestrian should wear in

night ?
(a) Dark (b) Bright (c) White
Question 10: What is the recommended length for Advance Warning
for construction Zone safety for speed less than 50 km/h?

(a) 50m (b) 100m (c) 200m

Question 11; Which light is more effective for Illumination of roads?

(a) Sodium Light (b) Mercury Light (c) Tungsten light
THANK YOU