Tape Effectiveness Study

The Effectiveness of Retroreflective Tape on Heavy Trailers (Right click to download PDF File). Clean tape and lights with cleaning solvent at every pre-trip inspection to maintain conspicuity! It's the law!

§392.33 Obscured lamps or reflective devices/material. (U.S.A.)
(a) No commercial motor vehicle shall be driven when any of the lamps or reflective devices/material required by subpart B of part 393 of this title are obscured by the tailboard, or by any part of the load or its covering, by dirt, or other added vehicle or work equipment or otherwise.

Color Effectiveness

It is time to consider using a modern color scheme for retroreflective tape on trailers, fluorescent yellow-lime green has been shown to be a safer color choice than red on fire trucks and street signage. It has a much higher candlepower than red and is also more effective in daylight, red tape has been ineffective in preventing large numbers of daytime crashes. Red and white can blend in to traffic background colors from headlights and tail lights (Red and white dot confusion). 67% of fatal crashes occurred in daytime during 2004 in the U.S.

USROADS.COM article outlining crash data for lime-yellow fire trucks

Tape Links

Reflexite Corporation

3M Corporation

FMCSA U.S. Truck and Trailer Tape Marking Guide

FMCSA's U.S. Conspicuity Requirements for Commercial Motor Vehicles PDF Document