What are Reflectors used for?

It is well-known that most road accidents, regardless of whether they involve cars, bikes, motorcycles, or heavy goods vehicles, occur at night and in poor visibility conditions like fog. As an extra safety measure, it is vital that all road-user vehicles have a reflector. It is almost certain that there is one for every make and model of motorcycle and car. The reflectors are easily attached or stuck to other makes and models.

Many companies specialize in manufacturing plastic products. They can produce reflectors in a variety of polymers, including ABS compounds and others like PPS, DMC, and ULTEM. These reflectors are available for both classic and modern vehicles. These companies are often able to produce suitable reflectors for cars that have not passed their M.O.T. tests.

Reflectors for bicycles are usually made of a transparent moulded tile of plastic with a smooth exterior (to allow light from approaching cars' headlights to enter), while the back of the reflector is composed of arrays of micro-prisms or angled spherical beads. Retroreflection is used to warn motorists about cyclists on the roads. Retroreflection is when light is reflected back at the source, with very little light scattered or lost in the surrounding areas. This makes Retroreflectors ideal materials to use for the manufacturing of car and bicycle reflectors.

The rear of such a reflector, which is the surface housing the micro-prisms and spherical beads, receives light from the sun at an angle greater than the "critical angle". This is the angle above which there can be no internal reflection. In this instance, total internal reflection means that the light strikes the rear of such a reflector at an angle greater than the 'critical angle'. This is because the interior surfaces are oriented in such a way that the light is completely reflected back through the front of it in the direction it came. It immediately alerts other road users about the presence of another vehicle.