New Aid to Safety at Night
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nEMONSTRATED in London last week the Webslight 1.--/ is a new type of reflecting road sign which can be accounted a real contribution to road safety. Basically, it consists of an aluminium plate covered by nine layers of staved lacquer in which are bedded minute spherical glass beads, totalling 45,000 per sq. in.
Manufacture of this type of sign is now beginning in this country, the world patent rights, with the exception of Germany and Switzerland (where it was invented), having been acquired by the Cheshire Engineering Co,, Ltd., Burwood House, Caxton Street, London, S.W.1. The cost of signs manufactured on the Webslight principle is stated to be more than that of a comparable plain enamel sign, but less than that of a conventional reflecting sign.
Seen at night in the beam of headlights, the sign is exceptionally brilliant, and can readily be seen from a quarter of a mile. Even in the light of side lamps, its shape and colour can be detected from a distance.
By bonding the first layer of lacquer to the aluminium plate—which is employed because -of its non-corroding properties—and keying subsequeht layers to each other, the signs are not only rust-proof but flexible, and cannot be chipped or permanently defaced in any way.
Apart from its potentialities in sign-boards and direction posts. the Webslight may be used to identify vehicles at night. It has been fitted to 60-ft. trailers used by the Royal Air Force, and the Road Haulage Executive is reported to be experimenting with the material on vehicle tail-boards
and sides. •
Two types of glass sphere are used in the manufacture of the plates. The smaller beads with a diameter of .05 mm. .(.00195 in.) give adequate reflection without dazzle through an angle of 40 degrees froba the centre of the light beam. The larger beads ensure reflection up to an angle of 80 degrees from the centre' of the beam. Tests showed that even when the headlights of a vehicle were at a larget angle to the sign, there, Was some residual reflection which could be quickly discerned.