What is the application of retroreflectometer?

Drivers should be familiar with the name of the retroreflectometer, but is it really worthwhile to consider buying it? What is the application of the retroreflector? What are its advantages and disadvantages? Is investing in a Retroreflective meter a wise choice?

What is the purpose of the retroreflectometer?

Why is the retroreflectometer so important?

How does the retroreflector perform road marking inspection?

What is the purpose of the retroreflectometer?

Retroreflectometers are used to measure the retroreflection of pavement markings and traffic signs, ensuring that your markings and signs meet current standards, helping to safely guide traffic during the day and night, and reducing accidents, injuries and deaths on the road. Understanding the state of road assets allows road owners to make informed decisions about road maintenance.

A retroreflective meter is an instrument that can accurately and reliably measure the light reflection characteristics of a mark. They come in all types and sizes. The use of a retroreflectometer is an accurate way to measure the level of retroreflectivity of a sign during the day, which is a good way to find the lowest reflective mark in the federal standard every day.

Why is the retroreflectometer so important?

Almost half of all traffic accidents occur in the evening, during the dark hours of the night and early morning. However, only a quarter of all trips occurred within the same hour - this is a surprising and serious statistic. On the dark, dull road, almost all visual cues disappeared, except for those retroreflective signals (signs and markers). The few remaining tips are crucial for driving, and if they become so worn that they are no longer easily visible, the chances of missing information become greater, leading to an increased likelihood of the driver making mistakes, which may Lead to traffic accidents. The urban area presents different environments related to the retroreflection of the sign. Other light sources, such as advertising signs and commercial lighting, can cause traffic signs to compete to attract driver attention. In many cases, traffic signs must have a higher rate of retroreflection in order to stand out from the competition.

When driving on a road at night, the retroreflective material may be a traffic sign or a sidewalk marker, and the light source is typically the headlight of the vehicle. Because the driver's eyes are close to the headlights of the vehicle, some of the light returned from the retroreflective material will reach the driver's eyes. The amount of light that an object reaches the driver's eyes will have a large effect on the brightness of the object to the driver. Thus, the retroreflective material that effectively returns light to the driver's eyes is brighter to the driver than the unreflected material.

Unfortunately, the retroreflective properties of traffic signs and pavement markings deteriorate over time. Therefore, it is important to replace these assets before they meet the needs of the night drivers. The main question is not whether the equipment should be replaced, but when is it replaced? How do we know when a device no longer meets the needs of the driver?

Bottom line... The municipality should actively manage the maintenance of signage and sidewalk markings to ensure they are clearly visible at night. Routine inspections of road signs and pavement markings should be part of municipal asset management or road safety programs.

How does the retroreflector perform road marking inspection?

Retroreflective highway lane markings use special types of coatings and materials. Most retroreflective coatings and other pavement marking materials (PMM) contain thousands of glass beads per square foot that are bonded to the highway using strong adhesives. Retroreflective coatings containing glass beads do not scatter light as in conventional coatings, but reflect glass light back into the direction of the vehicle.

One of the problems with pavement marking is their inconsistency in application and life. Because of this inconsistency, road administrators cannot reliably predict the performance of pavement markings, so it is necessary to periodically test the pavement markings with a retroreflector. If you are looking for a good quality and reasonable price of  retroreflectometer, NANJING T-BOTA SCIETECH INSTRUMENTS&EQUIPMENT CO.,LTD can provide you with the best products.