Driving up visibility with Bluelite Graphics
Visibility solutions provider Bluelite Graphics has emphasised the role essential fleets such as the emergency services and supermarket delivery operations have played in keeping the country moving during the coronavirus lockdowns.
“Not only has their service been outstanding, but it’s also demonstrated just how important it is to keep drivers and their colleagues safe on the road – whether ambulance teams or grocery workers – while they go about their daily tasks,” said Lorraine Avery, managing director of Bluelite Graphics Group, which specialises in high visibility livery production and application for emergency services and commercial fleets.
“It’s been almost 10 years since the introduction of the ECE104 directive mandating markings on heavy duty trucks and trailers, and the recently updated DfT’s Chapter 8 Code of Practice, and there’s no doubt that fleet visibility has improved significantly across all driving conditions during this time,” Lorraine said.
“Improvements in materials technology has played a large part in this, in addition to innovation in the supply chain that makes compliance with the regulatory guidance convenient and cost effective, for example by providing vehicle templates online in the supply of livery kits and chevrons.”
Bluelite has introduced its own innovations, including the launch of fender markings via its online commercial livery portal, chevronshop.com. The DeFender reflective markings provide early warning to oncoming vehicles of commercial and utility fleets joining traffic flows at night.
The wheel arch markings ensure better visibility for vehicles emerging from driveways and buildings in hours of darkness, says Bluelite, offering enhanced protection to trucks, vans and cars and the people inside.
For vehicle chevrons, Bluelite Group offers two options for operators – a DIY pack that includes red and yellow slats in various grades of material, all of which offer compliant performance, or red reflective material on a flooded yellow fluorescent base. Bluelite also reports that it has seen a growing interest among commercial fleets in prismatic technology used extensively by emergency services vehicles, because of its high conspicuity, excellent reflectivity at any distance and at narrow and wide angles.
These chevron markings alternate red retroreflective material and yellow non-retroreflective material, with a strip width of 250mm on vans and larger vehicles, and 150mm for cars and vans, angled upwards between 45 and 60 degrees. They should cover as much of the rear as possible without obscuring windows, lights or registration plates, says the company.
“There’s also room for livery innovation within the rules – for example, we have completed projects for security companies that incorporate battenberg elements styled on emergency services, while for motorcycle fleets we have worked closely with operators who understand the critical need for visibility for safety when travelling on two wheels,” added Lorraine.
