Reflective Stickers Mandatory For Vehicle Fitness
Hyderabad: The government’s move to make radium or reflective stickers mandatory to obtain vehicle fitness certificates is welcomed as a strong step towards safer roads, especially in low-light and high-risk conditions.
The Telangana government, through its latest circular, has mandated a QR-based Management Information System (MIS) for affixing reflective tapes and rear marking plates for vehicles.
The circular also stated that vehicles that are required to have reflective tapes will not be able to receive a new or renewed certificate of conformity unless the authenticity of these reflective materials is verified using the QR-based MIS system.
Road safety experts have long pointed out that poor visibility is a leading cause of accidents, especially at night and in foggy weather. Reflective radium stickers, which work by reflecting back light from headlights, make vehicles visible from a much greater distance, giving drivers crucial extra seconds to react and avoid collisions.
Research shows that visibility plays a decisive role in preventing accidents. Research on reflective materials shows that such technologies significantly reduce accidents by allowing drivers to see objects on the road more clearly in the dark.
A study on the effectiveness of retroreflective tapes plastered on the back of heavy trucks by members of the Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand, Kitami Institute of Technology in Japan, and Hokkaido University in Japan found that having good reflective tapes and radium stickers increases visibility and reduces rear-end collisions.
The study also revealed that the perception-reaction time of drivers behind trucks without reflective tape on the rear was significantly longer. Drivers without reflective tape aid took more time to react to maneuvers, affecting their ability to react during sudden movements.
In another study conducted by the International Association for Traffic and Safety Studies (IATSS), it was stated that drivers could detect reflective labels and react faster. He also stated that the longest detection distances were recorded in adverse weather conditions such as rain and fog, and emphasized the importance of effective retroreflective tapes in such scenarios.
The benefits of radium stickers are not limited to large vehicles. Reflective stickers are widely used on cars, motorcycles, agricultural equipment and even bicycles to improve safety.
Transport officials and road safety campaigners say such a mandate would also increase discipline among vehicle owners. By linking reflective stickers to fitness certification, authorities ensure that vehicles on the road meet basic visibility standards, especially commercial and heavy vehicles that travel long distances at night.
