Video: Mandating Retro-Reflective Tape For HV’s

HVIA member 3M, a global manufacturer of road safety products, has produced a new video to promote the mandating of retro-reflective tape for heavy vehicles in Australia to help improve safety.

The company says much of the world has mandated the use of retro-reflective tape on heavy vehicles for the simple reason that it can help save lives.

“Studies have concluded that the usage of retro-reflective tapes on trucks can help reduce side and rear truck impacts,” 3M states.

“Visibility of these trucks are especially exacerbated in night and poor conditions including rain and fog, dusk and dawn, where lighting is poor.”

To support its case, 3M cites a report from the Darmstadt University of Technology in Germany which found the use of retro-reflective tape under such conditions reduced overall rear collisions by 41 per cent and side collisions by 37 per cent.

“Today, standards for retro-reflective truck visibility are specified but not mandated in Australia. There is a strong argument that virtually any region could realise accident reductions and cost savings by implementing conspicuity regulations on large commercial vehicles,” the company contends.

As a step towards achieving Australia’s long-term vision that no person should be killed or seriously injured on Australia’s roads, 3M has produced a short video with Peter Frazer, President of Safer Australian Roads and Highways, and Dr Adele Lausberg, HVIA’s Chief Advocacy Officer, discussing how the legislated use of retro-reflective technology on heavy vehicles presents a quantifiable safety opportunity.

Check out the video here.