New highway reflector standards proposed by FHWA

Brighter pavement markings to come on all highways in US.

According to a press release by the Federal Highway Administration the FHWA administrator, Victor Mendez has proposed standards that ensure all highway pavement markings are easily recognizable under poor visibility conditions as well.

ÔÇ£Our nation's roads will be safer with pavement markings that are easier to see in low-light conditions,ÔÇØ said Administrator Mendez.

Reflective properties of reflectors deteriorate over time. The proposed revision to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), places  responsibility of continued maintenance of highway reflectors at or above minimum brightness standards on the state and local highway authorities.

A time allowance of six years is granted to the authorities to ensure these new standards on all highways. An earlier revision to the MUTCD had replaced highway signs with brighter and more legible ones for easy reading at highway speeds.

While crosswalks, chevrons, parking space markings and lane-use arrows are exempted, in all around four million miles of public roads will benefit from this ruling.