New Research Influences Future Sign Codes
New research on the safety of digital billboards and EMCs, the visibility of illuminated color signs in fog, the impacts of sunglasses on color measurement of traffic signs, and the latest human-factors research on measuring operator distraction in several travel modes were among the topics presented at North America’s largest transportation researcher conference. Also directly affecting the sign industry was an advanced update by the Canadian researchers developing the guidelines for late 2015 release that will be used as a basis for future EMC regulations issued by Canadian departments of transportation.
This research was presented at the Transportation Research Board’s (TRB) annual meeting which convenes 12,000 transportation researchers, academics and policy makers and government officials in Washington, DC to see nearly 5,000 presentations in nearly 750 sessions and workshops to fore presentations and sessions addressing topics of interest covering all transportation modes.
The research generated at the TRB meetings is significant to the sign industry and is hugely influential in establishing the next generation of regulations that govern highway sign placement, materials specifications, and the restrictions on any outside structures that might impact the safety of drivers. The information presented often leads to federal rules and recommendations that are adopted by state DOTs. Participation in TRB allows ISA to know about new research and policy ideas years before they are implemented and, occasionally, to intervene in hopes of affecting newly proposed rules.
ISA has been involved and monitoring the TRB for sign companies as part of its government affairs activities to ensure the sign and visual communications industry’s voice is heard. Among the sign industry participants at the TRB Annual Conference were ISA’s Kenny Peskin (@signcodeguy), as well as researchers from 3M (@3MGraphics) and ORAFOL Americas (@ORAFOL_Americas) and policymakers from Daktronics (@Daktronics) and Yesco Electronics (@YESCOElectronic)
For more information, contact ISA’s Kenny Peskin.
