A New Method to Assess Pavement Marking Retroreflectivity for Compliance with the MUTCD Minimum Pavement Marking Retroreflectivity Levels

Abstract

Pavement markings are an important element of the roadway infrastructure providing delineation and safety for human drivers as well as machine visions systems used in automated vehicles, making up larger portions of the vehicle fleet in the US each year.  The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has published minimum retroreflectivity requirements in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).  Support documents provided by the FHWA describe methods that can be used to manage pavement marking retroreflectivity.  This paper describes the requirements set forth by FHWA and also describes a new tool that agencies can use to manage pavement marking retroreflectivity so that they can be in compliance with the National minimum retroreflectivity requirements.