DOT C2 Reflective Tape Conspicuity Markings For Vehicles Manufacturer

DOT C2 is a reflective tape with an alternating white and red pattern that meets minimum reflective criteria. It must be 2″ wide and must bear the DOT C2 marking. Two patterns are accepted and you can use either 6/6 (6″ red and 6″ white) or 7/11 (7″ white and 11″ red). The reflective tape has a lot of different colors. According to FMCSA‘s suggestion, the conspicuity tape should be alternate red and white sections. DOT reflective tape should have only three widths: DOT-C2 for the 2-inch wide tape, DOT-C3 for 3-inch tape, and DOT-C4 for 4-inch wide tape.

On August 8, 1996, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a final rule requiring truck tractors manufactured on or after July 1, 1997, to use a red and white retroreflective material that is similar to the rear of a towing trailer to increase the visibility of nighttime driving time.

Equally spaced strips 12″, 18″, or 24″ may be used on each side of the trailer, as long as they cover at least 50% of the trailer’s area. On the rear of the vehicle, two consecutive strips must be used on the lower rear and two solid white inverted L’s must be marked on the top corners of the trailer. Trucks must be marked in a similar manner.

All commercial vehicles, whether they are trailers, tankers, or even school buses, need DOT tape, reflective tape (often called safety tape). People new to the industry often ask what the purpose of these colored, brightly colored tapes is.

The simplest, most succinct answer is to increase the visibility of large road obstructions using seat belts. This means that trailers, tankers, flatbeds, traffic cones, and even guardrails will all have some sort of reflective tape on them. If you can see it during the day and not at night, it needs to be clearly dimensioned with DOT reflective tape.

Our seat belts are specially designed to reflect even in the lowest light conditions. Our value is unbeatable because we never compromise on the quality of our harnesses.

As we cater to all our customers, we strongly request that the red and white prismatic DOT harnesses are available in rolls. This applies to companies that change their own steel belts, as well as to customers with specific preferences. It all comes down to preference. Most people will opt for the easy-to-cut pre-cut strips, which don’t require any forethought and take just a few minutes to complete.

Whether you’re cutting your own strips or using our handy pre-cut DOT safety tape, we have easy-to-follow placement instructions to ensure you meet the standards of your vehicle.

When we think about the reflective tape, most of the time we limit ourselves to commercial vehicles. However, there are many applications in which you can use DOT reflective tape in your office.

Marking lanes – Have you or your customers ever missed a lane because you couldn’t see your driveway? Use a few red or white reflective strips and a ruler to solve the problem.

Define the mailbox – No one wants to go back to the mailbox, but this is easy to do if the markings are not clear. Avoid the hassle and mark the mailbox at the top, bottom, and sides. For the most efficient use, place them on the edges to clearly define how much space you need to be left.

Find the bin – Emptying the bin on the same note as the mailbox is never a good way to start or end the day. Instead of guessing where the cans might be or searching for them when they fall into the ditch at night, save time and hassle and add a few strips of this highly reflective DOT tape. These strips are reflective in all situations and are suitable for outdoor use, the wear and tear of skiwear also make them ideal for rubbish bins.

Reflective tape for a wide range of uses, including trailer reflective tape

Although not currently required by law, adding safety tape to off-road vehicles, bicycles, buggies, and campers give you added peace of mind that your assets will be visible and that the driver will be able to accommodate them. Accidents can occur when objects are misjudged or go undetected. Make sure that the object you are towing or the vehicle you are traveling in is fully marked with DOT tape to avoid such costly accidents. There is no law against placing these strips on items, as it is best to clearly identify obstacles on the road for your safety and the safety of others.

How DOT reflective tape can save lives

Reflective belts could save an estimated 350 lives per year.

The DOT estimates that the implementation of DOT reflective belts could help prevent a significant number of casualties each year. In a recent report, the number of people saved by reflective belts was approximately 350 per year. This does not account for the large number of people who benefit from the reflective material. So how do reflective belts actually contribute to highway safety? These are some of the specific ways in which reflex bands save lives.

Four steps to applying reflective tape

To ensure the durability, strong adhesion, and effectiveness of reflective tape, it is important that it is correctly applied to your vehicle, equipment, or property. The correct application also helps to ensure that your warranty is valid.

Step 1 – Check the weather

For best adhesion and durability, 3M Reflective Tape should be used when the temperature is between 50°-100°F (10°-38°C). If the temperature is above 100°F, take care to avoid pre-bonding. If the temperature is below 50°F, use a portable heater or heat lamp to heat the application surface and store the marker in a hotbox to keep it above 50°F.

Step 2 – Get the right tools

These are the tools required to apply the reflective tape.

• Scissors or hobby knife with a sharp blade for cutting.
• Apply pressure to the surface of the reflective tape with an absorbent pick or roller. We recommend using a PA-1 blotter.
• A riveting tool, such as the Osborne Arc Punch #149, if you are working on rivets. You can also cut rivets.

Step 3 – Prepare the surface

To obtain proper adhesion, clean any surfaces to which reflective tape is to be applied.

• Wash the surface with detergent and water to remove dirt and road film.
• Rinse the wash area with pure water to remove detergent. A soap film will inhibit adhesion.
• Wipe with a lint-free paper towel moistened with an oil-free, fast-drying solvent such as isopropyl alcohol, acetone, or Prep Solvent 70.
• Dry the surface immediately with a clean, dry, lint-free paper towel before the solvent has completely evaporated, paying close attention to rivets, seams, and door hinge areas.

Step 4 – Apply reflective tape

Apply reflective tape:

• Remove the liner and place the reflective tape on the application surface.
• Press gently to secure the reflective tape in place.
• Press the reflective tape onto the application surface with your hand.
• Use a 3M PA-1 absorbent pick (or another applicator) to press down on the reflective tape with firm overlapping strokes.
• If hinges, latches, or other hardware are present, cut the tape back approximately 1/3″ to avoid bending.
• To apply to rivets, use firm pressure to attach the reflective tape to the rivet. Leave a bridge over the rivet head. Use a rivet punch to cut the tape around the rivet. Remove the tape from the rivet head. Suction pick around the rivet.

KWVINYL supplies DOT-C2 reflective tapes for a range of commercial and government vehicles. The tapes available from KWVINYL are specially designed to reflect light at an angle of 90 degrees. In addition, all the tapes on offer comply with the DOT regulations on reflective films. Please let us know if you have any questions about the products available on KWVINYL or about the DOT / FMVSS requirements for the use of reflective tapes / reflective films on vehicles.

A DOT-approved reflective tape must be able to concentrate light that is then transmitted back from any angle. The difference between DOT-approved reflective tape and universal reflective tape is that it consists of a glass sphere within the material. The sphere acts as a parabolic reflector, which means that it reflects light from all angles rather than from a specified angle.

Reflective tapes must be used on all commercial vehicles, especially those with trailers and vehicles that can be used to carry cargo (freight). Government vehicles are also required to have reflective belts on cars, ambulances, and other public service vehicles. Excluded from the list of authorized vehicles are trailers used for home and office purposes (not for highway use), logging trucks (in some states), and certain flatbed trucks. However, even if these vehicles are exempt from the mandatory requirements, operators of these vehicles should be encouraged to use reflective tape, as most states do require some form of reflective surface, lights, or illumination.

Commercial vehicles that already have reflective materials should be inspected to ensure that the chosen sheeting meets DOT requirements. The tape should reflect light clearly. If the tapes are old or worn, they should be replaced. Trailers that are pressure washed or scrubbed regularly should be checked for defects in the reflective tape. For example, refuse trucks and tippers that are pressure washed and cleaned regularly may cause the tape to darken. It is recommended that damaged tape be replaced.

The method of tape placement varies from state to state. However, there are some general rules of thumb that apply to most commercial vehicles. When choosing DOT-approved reflective tape, consider the following.

Do the colors mark the vehicle as an emergency or public service vehicle?

How wide is the tape? Regulations usually specify a minimum tape width of 1 inch

Government vehicles are usually marked in red, white, and yellow. In some cases, orange is used.

Some vehicles require the use of daytime and nighttime colors. If you are unsure of the requirements, or if you are traveling on business, it is recommended that you refer to the Federal Reflective Tape Guidelines to ensure that you comply with the DOT requirements.

As the tape needs to be placed around the outer edges of the trailer and cargo, it should be wide enough so that it is not obscured by side peripherals and fixtures.

When selecting reflective tapes for commercial or government vehicles, it is vital to choose a supplier that offers tapes that meet or exceed FMVSS requirements. KWVINYL offers DOT approved tapes. If you need assistance in determining the correct color, size, and location of reflective tape, please contact us. Buy trailer reflective tape here.

In the US, there are several caveats: You are forbidden to show red from the front of the vehicle or white from the rear; amber is permitted on all sides. You are forbidden to cover any reflective areas which are standard features by the manufacturer (such as taillights).