3M Austria

Round-the-clock visibility reduces risk of accident

3M contour markings for trucks, buses and emergency service vehicles

Over 50% of the fatalities on Austria's roads occur at night. In many cases these are the result of side-on or rear-end collisions by cars with trucks. These accidents are caused by drivers who fail to identify trucks or only spot them much too late. The increasing level of road traffic in Europe, particularly freight transport, calls for new, international safety systems.

The lighting on trucks is usually insufficient to enable the entire outline of trucks and their trailers to be recognisable in good time to other drivers. Articulated trucks turning and at junctions are particularly dangerous at night. Car drivers generally only recognise the tractor unit and fail to see the trailer. In every third night-time accident on motorways, a car driver collides with a truck in front of it without any attempt at braking because slower-moving trucks are either not recognised at all or, at best, are recognised too late.

95% of the accidents between cars and trucks could be prevented by the application of reflective contour markings to side and rear surfaces. According to research carried out by the University of Darmstadt in Germany, this would equate with a reduction of over 1000 accident victims.

The risk of accidents can be significantly reduced by using Scotchlite Diamond Grade contour markings. Buses, trucks and trailers marked with 3M reflective film products are clearly perceived and identified day and night, whether parked or moving.