The use of fluorescent versions of standard traffic sign colours to enhance daytime visibility of traffic control devices was examined. While the conspicuity advantage of fluorescent materials has been recognised for some time, the colours faded quickly when exposed to sun and heat. New durable retroreflective materials with fluorescent colours have been developed which allow their use in a harsh outdoor environment. These materials have the potential to increase daytime conspicuity while the night time brightness is sustained through a microprismatic retroreflective system. The objective of the study was to assess the visual performance of fluorescent retroreflective traffic control devices in terms of detection distance, colour recognition and legibility.
Abstract