The Refinement of Drivers' Visibility Needs During Wet-Night Conditions

About the project:

This project will determine the performance of four retroreflective pavement-marking materials in wet-night conditions and evaluate new testing methods as compared to a driver’s visual performance.  Retroreflective pavement markings bounce light from headlights back toward the vehicle and the driver's eyes, making signs and pavement markings visible.

Researchers at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute will measure the visual performance of the pavement markings by driver participants at the Virginia Smart Road under simulated rain conditions. The performance of the markings will be verified based on the participants’ ability to detect the end of the markings in both rain and clear conditions.

This study will establish the required retroreflectivity level for both white and yellow pavement markings during wet-night conditions.  These levels will then provide VDOT with the basis for establishing a performance-based specification for pavement markings.

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