Effect of a Cane with Microprism Reflecting Tape on the Nighttime Visibility of Blind Rural Travelers

Abstract

The study reported here compared the visibility of a cane equipped with white Scotchlite Reflecting Tape with Reflexite AP 1000M Reflecting Tape. The subjects were 33 licensed drivers, randomly assigned to groups, who were told to look for and announce the sighting of a person with a cane while they rode as passengers in cars traveling at a constant speed at night on a flat, unlit rural road. Elapsed times were recorded and distances calculated. The findings indicated that microprism reflecting tape, such as Reflexite AP 1000M, provides far greater detection distances at night on rural roads than does the standard Scotchlite currently used on long canes, and thus may be safer for blind travelers in rural areas.