Stick-on boost for night sight
Page 14
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by Bill Brock • 3M has introduced Scotchlite 980 diamond grade, an improved selfadhesive reflective material which can be used for truck body applications.
The material offers reflectivity more than three times greater than the standard reflective material used for road signs. 3M claims it is nine times more reflective than the engineering grade of film that has been currently available.
Depending on the level of ambient light, Scotchlite claims this material can be seen up to lkm away. It also provides angular reflection which means it can be seen at angles greater than 450.
Research has shown that the material could reduce night accidents involving commercial vehicles by up to 21% and by more than 16% during daytime.
Estimates show that around 20% of LGV mileage is covered in the dark, so any improvement in night time visibilit3. must help to reduce accidents. Almost half the rear-end shunts are attributed to drivers who saw the vehicle in front too late to stop in time. Legislation determines that red material is used at the rear of the vehicle, while satin yellow appears to be exceptionally effective for side markings: white is suggested for the front.
Safety conscious companies such as Woolworths, Silentnight and Boots are among those who have already applied the 980 diamond grade to their vehicles.
EC legislation on vehicle markings is expected within the next couple of years, while the US already has a requirement for large trailers to carry reflective markings. Two-inch wide marking is about £3 per metre. Applied to a flat surface it will withstand a pressure washer up to about 1,500psi.
Older drivers suffer a deterioration in night-time vision. On average, a 33year-old driver needs twice the amount of light to see as well as he or she did when 20 years old. After another 13 years the light requirement doubles again (see Dear Sir, page 22).
Tinted screens also reduce night visibility; white paint on vehicles has negligible reflective properties.