Reflectorized License Plates: Do They Reduce Nighttime Rear-End Collisions?

About the report:

The Commonwealth of Virginia randomly distributed 100,000 sets of experimental reflectorized and 100,000 sets of control nonreflective 1971 license plates, Each Division of Motor Vehicles distribution point in the state received and sold a pro rata number of each type. Plates were distributed evenly throughout each day of the distribution period. Accident data for the vehicles using experimental and control plates were collected for a 12-month period. These data were specifically coded and stored for retrieval by the Department of State Police. The reporting format distinguished between the striking vehicle and the vehicle struck. Reflectorized/control comparisons involved statewide data concerning nighttime and daytime accidents. The age of the driver, his driving experience, the age of the vehicle, and the weather conditions at the time of the crash were analyzed, as were data on fatal, personal injury, property damage, and total accidents. It was concluded that there was no statistically significant difference between the number of nighttime rear-end collisions of vehicles equipped with reflectorized license plates and that of vehicles equipped with control nonreflective license plates.

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