Higher Minimum Levels of Reflectivity Will be Required.

Effective January 1, 2008, 3M will no longer offer Engineer Grade sheeting.

After many years of study and consideration, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is expected to publish new rules in November, 2007, governing reflective sign performance in an effort to increase nighttime visibility and improve safety on our nation’s roadways. These rules will establish higher minimum levels of retained reflectivity for the most critical traffic signs used on roads today, and the new guidelines will place engineering grade sheeting below minimum performance levels for retained brightness over the required life of the sign.

In order to align ourselves with the upcoming minimum reflectivity standards and support the FHWA decision, we are discontinuing our engineer grade line for use on permanent signs in the U.S. effective January 1, 2008. While glass-beaded engineer grade sheeting has a rich history in the market, studies and research by independent sources have shown changes in the roadway environment — including aging motorists, vehicle diversity and new headlight technology — necessitate the use of more efficient, higher performance signs.

We view this as a positive development for driver safety and foresee the FHWA ruling moving the market to a higher performance sheeting, including High Intensity Prismatic Sheeting. High Intensity Prismatic Sheeting not only exceeds the minimums, but is a safer and less expensive choice than engineer grade based on the life of the sign.

All TAPCO sheeting meets or exceeds these requirements.

If you’d like more information on the FHWA ruling, visit: http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/roadway_dept/retro/index.htm

The City of Sioux City, Iowa has a population of approximately 85,000. The City was using Type I material prior to 1995 when a sign upgrade program was initiated that started with Type III
material, but eventually moved to a Type IX material. The city was replacing approximately 10 percent of its total sign inventory per year. Using crash data, the City determined that the crashes per million vehicle miles dropped from about 6.5 in 1995 to about 4.0 in 1999.

In addition, the ratio of nighttime to daytime crashes during the same period dropped from about 1.19 to about 0.96. The City estimated the costs of the program to be approximately $150,000 for the three years from 1997 to 1999. During that same time, the City estimated a total cost savings of almost five million dollars, using an average crash cost of $2,350. The benefit-cost ratio was estimated to be 34:1.

Reprinted from the Federal Register Online via GPO Access (wais.access.gpo.gov.).

“Open to Public Travel” Language Clarification
FHWA has revised MUTCD Language

FHWA Has Revised MUTCD Language to Clarify “Open to Public Travel” Traffic Control Devices (TCD) Improve Visual Awareness, thus Improving Safety While Reducing Accidents and Liability Effective January 16th, 2007, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has revised the language in the MUTCD to clarify its applicability on private property that is “Open to Public Travel”. This now includes toll roads and roads within shopping centers, parking lot areas, airports, sports arenas and other similar businesses and/or recreation facilities that are privately owned but where the public is allowed to travel without access restrictions.

Property owners and managers may reduce their exposure to costly lawsuits by proceeding with a traffic control device audit and installing FHWA compliant uniform traffic control devices on their property.

The shape, color, dimensions, legends, borders and nighttime conspicuity of signs and pavement markings are prescribed in the Manual of Uniform Traffic Devices. (MUTCD 2003) - “It’s The Law!”

These codes include:

• Non-complaint shape, message and color.
• Non-complaint use, height and placement.

All critical signs and pavement markings (traffic control devices) used on private properties that are open to public travelmust now comply with the MUTCD. Using uniform traffic control devices improves sign recognition and commands respect by both drivers and pedestrians. Consequently, you will improve traffic safety and mobility for your clients accessing your property.

All TAPCO signs meet or exceed these requirements.

Reprinted in part from American Traffic Safety Services Association. (http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov)

All non-breakaway sign supports within the clear zone of roads posted at 50 mph or greater shall be replaced by January 2013.

Supports for road signs frequently placed close to the roadway, are hazardous if they are not designed, manufactures and constructed to break away upon impact. Even relatively small and innocent looking road sign supports can be deadly if they are not designed to break away.

The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), which is the national standard used for all roads open to public travel, states that roadside sign supports in the clear zone shall be breakaway, yielding or shielded. This requirement applies to all roads, whether publicly or privately owned. Although state highway agencies are generally in compliance already, the FHWA
is concerned that many local agencies may not be aware of this requirement.

TAPCO’s V-Loc meets or exceeds all Federal breakaway regulations.

Reprinted in part from U.S. Department of Transportation - Federal Highway Administration.
(http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov)