Recent studies conducted by the Texas Transportation Institute examined how well commercial truck drivers perceive vital information on road signs and how signs might better alert oncoming vehicles to the presence of a school bus. Studies have shown that reflective signs are less visible to commercial truck drivers than to drivers of passenger cars, since most signs are designed to reflect light back to the headlight area of cars, not that of large trucks. Researchers found that most truck drivers are unaware that they are receiving less light, however. TxDOT is pursuing added safety measures by upgrading the reflective sheeting on signs to improve visibility for all drivers. In the study that examines ways to better alert drivers to the presence of school buses, researchers are looking at an active warning device for rural school bus stops with limited visibility. The system consists of two flashing beacons perched atop "School Bus Ahead" warning signs and a spread spectrum radio transmitter attached to the yellow flashing lights on all school buses. By flipping a switch, school bus drivers activate the yellow flashing lights and a radio signal is transmitted to beacons on the warning sign, causing them to flash.
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