Notorious accident site trials latest 3M warning sign technology.
	One of New Zealand's most notorious roundabouts is trialling new, fluorescent warning sign technology in a bid to reduce accidents involving vulnerable road users. More Innovation stories					One of New Zealand's most notorious roundabouts is trialling new, fluorescent warning sign technology in a bid to reduce accidents involving vulnerable road users. The new, fluorescent yellow-green signage is being trialled at only two sites in the country, in Christchurch and Auckland. However motorists can expect to see the signs nation wide in the near future, as the Land Transport Safety Authority has just approved their use in areas where school children, pedestrians and cyclists are present. Andrew Allen, Auckland City Council's Project Manager for Traffic and Roading Services, says pedestrian safety is a huge concern nation wide. "The new warning sign technology should go a long way to help reduce accidents," he says. Auckland's Royal Oak roundabout is the second most dangerous roundabout in New Zealand, with three out of every four accidents at the site resulting in pedestrian injuries, almost twice the national average. The fluorescent signs are highly visible, made with 3M? Scotchlite? Diamond Grade? reflective, yellow-green sheeting, and alert motorists to vulnerable road users much sooner than existing, non-fluorescent warning signs. Extensive field tests in the US and Europe, where the material is widely used, show that motorists see fluorescent colours up to 40 percent sooner than normal yellow signs in daylight and up to 50 percent sooner at night. Auckland City's Andrew Allen believes the Auckland roundabout upgrade, with new signage and other major improvements, has created a lower speed environment, providing increased safety for vulnerable road users. The new signs will be gradually introduced throughout New Zealand as road maintenance programmes take place.

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