THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, March 10, 1995                 TAG: 9503100393
SECTION: AUTO WEEKLY              PAGE: H1   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY MARY SCULLY
                                             LENGTH: Short :   35 lines

BRIGHTER, BETTER SIGNS DIRECT US NEW TRAFFIC SIGNS RESPOND TO A VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS WITH MORE INTENSITY.

[This story is not available electronically. For complete text, please see microfilm.] ILLUSTRATION: Staff color photo

These two signs are made of 3M's Diamond Grade sheeting, which

embeds glass prisms in the material, reflecting light back to the

driver's eyes. Virginia Department of Transportation now uses

Diamond Grade ``Fluorescent Orange'' for its construction signs.

``Strong Yellow Green'' is a new color being evaluated.

Color photo by ERIC THINGSTAD

Carol Bowen, traffic operations engineer for the city of Virginia

Beach, shows the difference in reflectivity in old and new

construction signs.

Courtesy of 3M

Diamond Grade reflective sheeting enables drivers to see signs

better at night. VDOT is changing all highway signs to Diamond

Grade.

by CNB