Toronto, Ontario—Oct. 4, 2019—After announcing a partnership in July, Ontario’s 407 Express Toll Route and 3M Canada have installed ADAS-optimized marking tapes on 2.5km of the 407 ETR.
The experiment is part of the 407 ETR Living Labs program of innovation, which promotes both safety and next-generation transportation. It will compare two types of marking tapes: the traditional white version as well as the new retro-reflective version that has “a unique contrast between black and white,” according to the companies.
While much of the work and research around ADAS technology and autonomous vehicles focuses on sensors, software and other in-vehicle technology, 3M and 407 ETR are focusing on improving the roads these vehicles are sensing.
The markings are designed to work with how machines see and read infrastructure and have four main strengths: the strips are reflective even when wet, possess a contrast that equals improved lane definition, they are meant to deliver long-lasting performance and they assist in improving road conditions for ADAS-enabled vehicles.
The retro-reflective tape has been installed on either side of lane two from east of the Humber River to Weston Road, in Vaughan, Ont. The first generation 7-inch tape occupies half the distance while the new 10-inch version covers the rest.
The installation, by Total Traffic Services Inc., was literally done overnight and had the highway ready to go for morning commuters.
