Night-Time Visibility of Road Markings: AI for Retroreflectivity Checks as per IRC 67

Road safety in India depends heavily on the visibility of road markings, especially during night-time driving. According to the Indian Roads Congress (IRC) 67: Code of Practice for Road Markings, retroreflectivity standards are critical to ensure that markings remain visible under low-light and rainy conditions. As traffic density and vehicle speed increase across India’s highways and city roads, ensuring compliance with IRC 67 retroreflectivity India guidelines has become essential for both safety and efficiency.

With advancements in technology, AI road marking visibility and automated retroreflectometer AI systems are revolutionizing the way road authorities monitor and maintain pavement markings. These innovations are now a vital part of road asset management in India, reducing accidents and improving driver confidence at night.

Reflective Highways

Importance of IRC 67 in India

The IRC 67 code defines standards for road marking materials, line thickness, color, and most importantly, retroreflectivity performance. Retroreflectivity refers to the ability of road markings to reflect light back to drivers, ensuring visibility during darkness or adverse weather.

As per IRC 67, road markings in India must:

  • Provide continuous guidance to drivers in all lighting conditions
  • Maintain minimum retroreflectivity levels for white and yellow markings
  • Support safe overtaking, lane discipline, pedestrian crossings, and stop lines

However, due to rapid wear and tear from heavy traffic, monsoons, and construction activity, many markings across India fade below acceptable retroreflectivity levels, creating safety hazards.

The Challenge of Night-Time Road Safety in India

India records a high number of road accidents at night due to poor marking visibility. Key challenges include:

  • Fading thermoplastic paint and reflective beads
  • Lack of regular road inventory inspections
  • Inadequate monitoring of retroreflectivity performance
  • Manual inspection processes that are time-consuming and error-prone

To overcome these gaps, AI-based monitoring solutions are emerging as transformative tools.

AI for Retroreflectivity and Road Marking Visibility

AI road marking visibility systems use cameras, sensors, and machine learning algorithms to automatically detect and measure the retroreflective performance of road markings. By combining dashcam-based AI road surveys with advanced retroreflectometer readings, authorities can ensure compliance with IRC 67 retroreflectivity India requirements.

Key Features of Automated AI Retroreflectivity Checks

  1. Dashcam-Based AI Road Survey
    Vehicles equipped with dashcams capture real-time video of road markings, enabling continuous AI pavement condition surveys without traffic disruption.
  2. Automated Retroreflectometer AI
    AI algorithms analyze light reflection levels directly, providing accurate retroreflectivity measurements as per IRC 67 standards.
  3. Digital Road Maintenance System Integration
    Collected data is fed into a digital road asset inventory, helping authorities prioritize repainting and maintenance activities.
  4. AI-Based PCI Monitoring
    Beyond markings, AI also assists in pavement condition index (PCI) monitoring, providing a holistic view of India’s road asset management.

Benefits for Road Asset Management in India

  • Enhanced Safety: Ensures compliance with IRC 67 retroreflectivity levels to reduce night-time accidents.
  • Cost Efficiency: Optimizes repainting schedules, reducing unnecessary expenditure.
  • Transparency: Provides digital records of marking performance for audits and planning.
  • Scalability: Can be applied across national highways, state roads, and city networks.
  • Smart Maintenance: Integrates seamlessly with digital road maintenance systems and road safety audits.

RoadVision AI – Advancing Night-Time Road Safety

At RoadVision AI, we deliver cutting-edge solutions for AI-powered road marking visibility and retroreflectivity inspections. Our tools, including pavement condition surveys, road inventory inspections, and traffic surveys, help Indian authorities implement smart, cost-effective, and regulation-compliant systems.

Explore our case studies and industry insights on our blog to learn how AI is driving safer roads in India.

Conclusion

As India modernizes its highways under IRC 67 standards, ensuring night-time road safety in India requires embracing technology. By adopting AI road marking visibility systems and dashcam-based AI road surveys, authorities can guarantee compliance with retroreflectivity regulations, reduce accidents, and extend the life of road assets.

RoadVision AI is transforming infrastructure development and maintenance by harnessing artificial intelligence and computer vision AI to revolutionize road safety and management. By leveraging advanced computer vision artificial intelligence and digital twin technology, the platform enables the early detection of potholes, cracks, and other road surface issues, ensuring timely repairs and better road conditions. With a mission to build smarter, safer, and more sustainable roads, RoadVision AI tackles challenges like traffic congestion and ensures full compliance with IRC Codes. By empowering engineers and stakeholders with data-driven insights, the platform reduces costs, minimizes risks, and enhances the overall transportation experience.

Book a Demo with Us today to see how RoadVision AI can strengthen road asset management in India.

FAQs

Q1. What is retroreflectivity in road markings?


Retroreflectivity is the ability of road markings to reflect vehicle headlight beams back to drivers, ensuring visibility at night.

Q2. Why is IRC 67 important for India?


IRC 67 sets mandatory standards for road markings, ensuring consistent visibility, safety, and compliance across India’s road networks.

Q3. How does AI help in retroreflectivity checks?


AI automates road marking inspections, measures retroreflectivity levels, and integrates findings into digital road maintenance systems for timely action.