Reflectors are materials that are used to reflect light. These are pavement markers that are normally rectangular or dome-shaped, depending on the make. These devices are fixed to the road or pavement surfaces to supplement other road marking such as road lines. But pavement reflectors are used primarily in the streets for the same purpose – to reflect light. However, these markers reflect light coming from the headlights of the passing vehicles. This is the reason why most of these are used for traffic control and safety.
These pavement reflectors are normally not obscured whether the area is dark or under weather conditions that may affect the visibility of the road such as rains or snowfalls. Reflecting light in the streets can guide the road users in driving, especially during the night. It makes the street and its traffic lanes more visible. But aside from that, such reflectors also have different purposes. They also serve as traffic delineators that serve as effective guides for the drivers as well as the pedestrians.
These type of reflectors can also serve as a traffic control solution. When these reflectors, combined with road reflectors, road lines and marking, are placed in dark areas or in accident prone areas, the area can be significantly safer. Reflectors are also used in zones such as the pedestrian crossing zone. Ultimately, these reflectors encourage safe driving conditions.
Different pavement reflectors are available. The different pavement reflector types are used depending on the specific purpose. The different types also have different characteristics to make it suitable for the road users' needs. Such reflectors that are yellow or amber in color are often used to mark the different lanes in the roads with two way traffic. In some areas where fire hydrants are common, blue pavement reflectors indicate the presence of a fire hydrant. Red reflectors indicate the things not to do such as entering a one way street in the wrong direction. White reflectors mark the edge of streets alongside the side streets. All these different reflectors are placed in strategic areas to make the road users be more aware of the hazards that are present in the area, particularly in the streets.
The placement of road reflectors and its suitability are often accompanied with studies and analysis. This is because road reflectors must satisfy the different factors affecting the area. These factors include weather, temperature, etc. Weather and climate factors can have an effect on the visibility of the markers and the accompanying painted road lines. Also, special types of reflector markers are used in areas where snowfalls are common occurrences. The area and its traffic properties where these road reflectors will be installed must also be considered. This can be a big factor in the installation of the reflectors.
For areas with relatively a low to medium amount of traffic and car volume, road reflectors can be placed on the roads by use of a simple adhesive, normally a butyl pad. But for areas with high traffic volume, the reflectors must use a more adhesive substance. The reflectors are thus installed by use of an epoxy. All the different factors of the area to be placed with reflectors are normally combined in the analysis for the pavement reflectors. These markers may be costly and difficult to install. An analysis with all factors considered would ensure that the placement of these markers would be the most cost-effective and at the very least, bring sufficient changes that can help the road users.