Reflective Stickers Mandatory For Vehicle Fitness
Transport officials and road safety campaigners say that such a mandate will also improve discipline among vehicle owners
HYDERABAD: The government’s move to mandate radium or reflective stickers for obtaining vehicle fitness certificates is being welcomed as a strong step towards safer roads, especially in low‑light and high‑risk conditions.
The Telangana government, through its recent circular, has mandated a QR‑based Management Information System (MIS) for the affixation of reflective tapes and rear marking plates for vehicles.
The circular also stated that vehicles required to have reflective tapes cannot get a new or renewed fitness certificate 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 one of the leading causes of accidents, particularly at night and during foggy weather. The reflective radium stickers, which work by bouncing back light from headlights, make vehicles visible from a much greater distance and give drivers crucial extra seconds to react and avoid collisions.
Studies show that visibility plays a decisive role in preventing crashes. Research on reflective materials indicates that such technologies significantly reduce accidents by improving how clearly drivers can see road objects in the dark.
A study on the effectiveness of retro‑reflective tape plastered at the rear of heavy trucks, researched by members of the Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand, Kitami Institute of Technology in Japan and Hokkaido University in Japan, stated that having good reflective tapes and radium stickers increases visibility and reduces rear‑end collisions.
The study also found that the perception‑reaction time of drivers is significantly longer for those behind trucks with no retro‑reflective tape at the rear. Drivers without the aid of reflective tape took more time to react to manoeuvres, impacting their ability to respond during sudden movements.
Another study led by the International Association of Traffic and Safety Studies (IATSS) said drivers were able to identify reflective stickers and react quicker. It also noted that the longest detection distances were recorded in adverse weather conditions such as rain and fog, highlighting the importance of effective retro‑reflective tape 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 that such a mandate will also improve discipline among vehicle owners. By linking reflective stickers to fitness certification, authorities ensure that vehicles on the road meet basic visibility standards, especially for commercial and heavy vehicles that travel long distances at night.
