IMPROVED COMMERCIAL VEHICLE CONSPICUITY AND SIGNALLING SYSTEMS. ANALYSES, EXPERIMENTS AND DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS. TASK II.

The purpose of this project is the design and testing of marking and signalling systems for large commerical vehicles. Results of Task II are presented including: (1) Augmented conspicuity designs using retroreflective materials, intended for use in field tests or as an after-market add-on; (2) An integrated conspicuity design incorporating improved lighting, signalling and reflectorization, intended for original manufacture; and (3) A plan for field tests to compare accident rates of the recommended designs with current practice. Detailed rationale is given for the designs, including descriptions of six experiments on truck conspicuity. The recommended design includes vehicle perimeter outlining using retroreflective materials, reflectorized flaps, the addition and relocations of turn signals to ensure their visibility to other drivers, changes in the number and location of clearance and I.D. lights, and separation of functions for rear signalling.