Johnson: Improve signs’ ‘retro-reflectivity’

ATLANTA — A Congressman from Georgia wants to increase the brightness and size of traffic signs, a move he says will allow motorists to them more clearly at night.

U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., earlier this month introduced the “Safe Roads for America Act.” According to Johnson, the measure would ensure that legislation that Congress approved in 1992 establishing timeliness to upgrade road signs’ so-called “retro-reflectivity” is implemented.

Johnson contends brighter signs will give motorists more time to make critical decisions, thereby reducing emergency response times. The bill, Johnson said, maintains “reasonable deadlines” for the safety upgrades and eases access to federal funds for the purposes of implementing the legislation’s mandates.

“As our population ages, we need to make our road signs more readable at night,” Johnson said in a news release. “Someone 60 years old needs 10 times the amount of light to see at night as someone who is 19, according to the American Automobile Association. Safe Roads helps make our roads safer by ensuring seniors and everyone can see roads signs more clearly at night.”  

The measure is H.R. 3536. In addition to Johnson, 13 representatives have signed on as co-sponsors, including U.S. Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga.