Safety visions

Improving traffic sign visibility is critical to improving safety for road users

Words | Nikhil Agashe, Avery Dennison R&D director

In 2016, according to a report from Macquarie Bank, 88.1 million cars and light commercial vehicles were sold worldwide, up 4.8% from a year earlier. This upward trend is expected to continue, and with that comes the critical need to ensure that roads remain safe for the millions of people that use them each day.

As people in most developing countries are now realizing their dream of car ownership, the additional burden on capacity is increasing. Construction of new roadways has failed to keep pace with this growth.

Shared space roadways

In every country across the globe, the urban roadway is a shared space, with automobiles, public transportation vehicles, motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians traveling side by side. In developed countries, there is a movement to research, develop and introduce alternate transportation options and greater safety measures as the roadways become more crowded.

In any of these scenarios, drivers must become more alert to, and aware of, their roadway surroundings, to improve safety on the roadways. States, counties, cities, townships and their road authorities also have an increased responsibility to provide better solutions to drivers facing more road chaos and congestion.

One such solution is the improved visibility of traffic signs. In many locations, fluorescent material is frequently used to mark pedestrian crossings, bicycle pathways, walkways and other informational signs.

Fluorescent colors are used widely because they improve the appearance of the sign, and because of their brightness, make it more visible. Fluorescence is a phenomena where radiation is absorbed by a fluorophore (usually a pigment, dye or other colorant), resulting in excitation of the fluorophore species. As the fluorophore returns to its original ground state, it releases a lower energy, or higher wavelength radiation.

The choice of the fluorophore or the combination of multiple fluorophores is critical to the performance of fluorescent colors. ‘Performance’ is defined as the level of fluorescence, color or hue, and longevity or durability of fluorescence. Innovating to increase the durability of fluorescent materials used in traffic signage is especially important given the fact that fluorescent colorants have poor ultraviolet light stability.

Limiting light exposure

In some instances, fading of fluorescent sheeting due to ultraviolet (UV) light exposure dramatically shortens the useful life of the sign. While UV screening or blocking is one solution intended to address the outdoor durability problem, several difficulties can arise.

One concern is that the UV light-absorbing compounds of these screening layers can leach out in time or can diffuse or migrate into the underlying fluorescent layer. This diffusion can actually accelerate fading of the fluorescent colorant in certain instances.

On the frontline of developments

The engineers at Avery Dennison are at the forefront of solutions that maximize the fluorescent colors’ performance in international traffic signage. After continuing evaluations and regular trials, Avery Dennison optimized the pigment and dye chemistry for the most durable and visible traffic signage applications.

The fluorescent materials provide improved fluorescent coloration articles

that achieve desired color shades. In addition, they offer durability attributes that are extremely well suited for exterior or outdoor usage, including under a variety of weather conditions.

Applying the appropriate color

Avery Dennison’s patented, flexible technology allows for the use of multiple polymer materials according to the choice of application, with the correct fluorescent colorant to impart high visibility. By combining fluorescent materials in multiple layers, Avery Dennison is able to design the correct shade of color – for example, fluorescent yellow for warning signs and fluorescent yellow/green or lime green for pedestrian crossing signs.

With this patented technology, Avery Dennison is able to offer industry-leading warranties of up to 12 years on fluorescent materials used in permanent traffic signage.

The company’s fluorescent traffic materials are also compatible with its TrafficJet print system, which provides an added advantage to customers. With the patent-pending CMSpot6 ink configuration that replaces standard process yellow and black in a CMYK ink set with more durable spot yellow and black inks, it is a technological achievement in today’s traffic industry.

The CMSpot6 colors have been refined to provide optimal color and transmission, which comply with the strictest of the global retroreflective specifications.

With the proven pigment technical knowledge, the performance of the TrafficJet Spot colors is also warrantied for up to 12 years, matching the base sheeting warranties when protected by UV overlaminates.

Customers have the flexibility to choose between OL-2000 UV-overlaminate or OL-1000 UV overlaminate, with its added anti-graffiti and moisture barrier properties. TrafficJet is also the only system available that provides fully warrantied, specification-compliant traffic colors with the benefit of a CMYK-process printing capability that is durable for up to 10 years.

Testing for improvements

The TrafficJet print system continually undergoes testing in Avery Dennison laboratories to improve it and maximize its benefits to the company’s customers. This ability to design and test digital print systems with traffic signage products in one central performance center is a considerable advantage and allows proactive commercialization of new features.

As each year passes, with additional traffic on roadways across the globe, Avery Dennison reaffirms its commitment to customers to provide the most innovative, durable and safe technologies for roadway signage. Keeping motorists safe on the millions of miles of roads they travel each day is of paramount importance and the company will continue to create solutions to address changing needs. n

Opposite: Durable traffic signs

can help improve safety for road users

Left: The time needed to create

high-quality multi-colored signs is reduced with TrafficJet

Below: The Avery Dennison

system requires less hands-on labor than traditional printing methods