MnDOT plans to install reflective tape on traffic lights and stop signs

Minnesota Department of Transportation says it will be investing half a million dollars to make traffic lights and stop signs around Minnesota more visible to drivers.

When you’re on the road, it’s easy to zone out or become distracted. To prevent drivers from accidentally passing stop signs and stop lights, the Minnesota Department of Transportation said it will be putting reflective tape to make visibility a priority.

“The tape we’re using is 3M, that’s manufactured here in Minnesota,” Derek Leuer said, holding up a traffic light backboard lined with reflective yellow tape. Leuer is the traffic safety engineer for MnDOT. “The whole idea is to add some conspicuity to the intersection and make it more visible to drivers.”

Leuer said the project is starting with a thousand stop signs and 101 traffic lights around the states. Unlike the stoplights, the stop signs will have red reflective tape on the pole that holds the sign up. Both the yellow and red tape are extremely Reflective at night.

“From further out, you’ll be able to see this yellow border and the lights as well,” Leuer said. “During the nighttime is their biggest benefit.”

Leuer explained that they will monitor the crash data for the next few years at these intersections to see if the tape is really helpful. If the numbers end up with a positive trend, he said it’s not afraid that you’ll be seeing more of them around the state.