title: Detection and reading distances of retroreflective road signs during night driving.
abstract: The detectability and legibility of road signs of different reflective intensities were studied in night driving conditions. The results indicated that for obtaining optimal detectability and legibility distances, the reflective intensity of a new road sign should be in the range of 4 to 10 mcd/lux x cm(2). For signs in this range it was shown that doubling the area of a sign increased a detection distance of about 600 m by about 150-200 m. Opposing headlights on an oncoming car decreased detection distances of 500-900 m by about 100 m. Finally, it was found that standard signs, with a text 170 mm high, permitted reading from a distance of about 115 m.
authors.affiliation: The Swedish National Road and Traffic Research Institute, University of Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dahlstedt
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Svenson