For many of us, getting behind the wheel of a car is arguably the riskiest thing we do each day. And while the media is focused on the dangers of distracted driving, the truth is there are numerous factors that can increase or decrease the likelihood of getting into an accident.
More Accidents Happen After Dark
When it comes to driver safety, the time of day plays an important role. A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study found that most accidents occur between 6 and 9 p.m. This is due in part to hazards that are compounded at night. According to statistics, instances of drunk driving and speeding increase significantly after dark, and fatigue, inclement weather, and diminished vision also can make it more dangerous to be on the road at night.
Add to these contributing factors the growing numbers of older drivers on the road. With the aging of the “baby boomer” generation, some estimates project that by 2050 the proportion of the population made up of older adults will double. Seniors often experience reduced vision, slower reaction times, and other health issues that result in drivers 65+ having greater accident rates per mile driven than any age group except the most inexperienced drivers (age 25 and under).
Improving Driver Visibility is a Top Priority
It’s no wonder that improving visibility for motorists is a top priority for communities, cities, and states across the country. The use of highly reflective road and barrier markers is proving to be effective in keeping roads safer and saving lives, even in the most adverse driving conditions.
Reflective road markers and highway pavement reflectors increase nighttime visibility by providing cues for drivers traveling through hazardous locations. By bouncing light from a vehicle's headlights back towards the driver, these markings help motorists navigate roads after dark, enhance traffic flow, and promote safer driving, especially in high-risk areas. On heavily traveled roadways, each vehicle’s headlamps light up the reflectors, providing all drivers with a clearer guide to the road ahead.
Reflective road markings can improve traffic safety in dangerous locations or anywhere there is poor visibility, including construction zones, unlit tunnels, road crossings, and areas with frequent bad weather or poor visibility. The wide variety of materials available for these markings includes paints, cold applied plastics, thermoplastics, and self-adhesive tapes.
Shatterproof PCBMs Outshine the Competition
Advances in technology are making it possible for reflectivity to be incorporated effectively and economically in a variety of road markings. For example, abrasion-resistant Raised Pavement Markers make roads visible to drivers in all kinds of weather. Guardrail Markers come in many styles that are durable and easy to install.
Barrier Markers give drivers additional response time when driving through hazardous areas day and night. These markers are typically used to delineate concrete barrier walls, concrete bridge parapets, and guardrail posts. Most models can be top or side-mounted and are suitable for temporary or permanent installations.
Durability and luminance are key factors when it comes to selecting reflective barrier markers. Injection molded reflectors shatter when struck, losing all of their reflectivity and brightness. The PCBM-12 Portable Concrete Barrier Markers at Traffic Safety Direct are made of high impact engineering grade thermoplastic that is virtually shatterproof. They resist both direct and indirect vehicle impacts, even in frigid weather, and rebound to their original shape. Pre-drilled holes and a specially formulated adhesive make installation quick and easy.
Our PCBMs use diamond grade, high intensity or super high intensity prismatic sheeting and are available in white or yellow in a variety of styles. With their superior reflectivity and proven longevity in the field, Traffic Safety Direct’s maintenance-free PCBMs literally outshine the competition, making them a smart and life-saving investment.
To learn more about your options for using reflective road markers to improve driver safety, contact us at Traffic Safety Direct.