Road & transportation safety center blog

3M has made the commitment as a First Mover in The National Road Safety Strategy, as a company we have been at the forefront of safety innovation for over a century.

With its sharp curves and intersecting on and off ramps, the interchange where I-64, I-65, and I-71 converge in downtown Louisville has always been known as “Spaghetti Junction.” Portions of this interchange have experienced a high rate of traffic incidents in the past, particularly large truck rollovers and car spinouts.

Kentucky has one Central Sign Shop where most of the state’s signs are manufactured, along with smaller shops in each of its 12 districts. The State’s current mandate has been ASTM Type IV or Type IX sheeting for most traffic signs. However, recent efforts have been made to adopt a Type XI sign sheeting standard.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) operates 18,600 lane miles of state highways. Maintaining quality signage throughout the state is a key part of ensuring that the motoring public travels safely and efficiently.

Over the years, vehicles have evolved, modes of transportation have diversified, and the needs of road users have become more varied. To keep up with the shifting requirements of the people navigating our roads, traffic sign manufacturers and Department of Transportation (DOT) sign shops have adapted their processes to be more flexible and efficient.

Urbanization can offer significant benefits for people around the world, including access to electricity, internet, economic opportunities, and more. However, with close to 7 billion people sharing space in urban areas, city planners have a big challenge ahead of them.

In rainy, nighttime conditions, the pavement markings that define lanes can become difficult to see. Learn how pavement marking visibility plays a major role in helping drivers navigate, stay in their lanes, and get home safely.

Help reduce traffic accidents at intersections by using traffic signal backplates with retroreflective borders. Highly visible traffic lights can alert distracted drivers.

To help increase road safety, consider putting your roads on a diet. A road diet reduces lanes of traffic to improve efficiency and help make roads safer for drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists.

Roundabouts reduce the number of conflict points at intersections, which lowers the number of traffic accidents. Choose the right road signs and pavement markings for roundabouts.

Horizontal curves have higher crash rates than other highway segments. Learn how improving visibility on horizontal curves can improve driver safety.

Modern low-beam headlights direct more light at the road, resulting in less light bouncing off road signs. Full-cube Type XI sign sheeting — a more efficient retroreflective sign sheeting — reflects more light to keep drivers safer at night.

Every road sign serves one primary purpose: convey the most accurate information possible at the moment when each driver needs it in order to make a decision. Key to accomplishing this is delivering that message quickly, effectively and safely.

How to create safer road work zones for workers, drivers and pedestrians.

This is how having front and back license plates makes a difference to public safety, law enforcement apprehension and state revenues

Bringing together standards and science for consistent, visible traffic control devices.

Learn more about reducing traffic crashes through awareness, behavior and infrastructure.

Learn how reflective tape can help protect your bottom line

Learn more about the safety and effectiveness of roundabouts.

Discover questions to ask yourself, the sign printer manufacturer, the ink supplier, the protective overlay manufacturer, and more.

Learn about the shocking statistics of elderly drivers and see how you can help keep them safe.

Learn about the science behind aging eyes and the impact it could have on road safety.

Reflective sheeting performance graphics may be misleading. Learn what to watch for.

Learn about black spots and ideal technologies for ensuring maximum reflectivity on dark roads.

Learn about the science of pavement marking bead technology and why it matters in wet or dry conditions.

Healthy communities watch out for one another and enjoy using byways safely and responsibly.

Learn how signage, barricades and pavement markings keep you safe in temporary traffic control work zones.

Here are 3 trends which impact road signs & traffic safety.

An intro to the science & technology of traffic signs & how it impacts road safety.

Find out about the physics of retroreflectivity, why luminance is an important performance measurement for signs, how angularity affects sign visibility, and what defines ASTM sheeting types.

Studies show that upgrading to ASTM D4956 Type XI – compliant sheeting can help reduce crashes and has a positive cost-to-benefit ratio.