These days, cars are getting smarter. Driver-assist technologies are becoming the new standard on roads and job sites. These technologies include automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection and lane-keeping assistance. But here's a question many safety managers haven't asked yet:
Are your safety vests compatible with driver-assist tech?
The New Reality of Visibility
Traditional high-visibility (hi-vis) vests were designed to make workers easy to see. They come in bright colours and have reflective stripes that catch the light from headlights at night.
But as self-driving and semi-self-driving cars become more common, it is also important that they can see well. Cameras, LiDAR, radar, and infrared sensors all detect workers differently, and not all reflective materials register the same way to these systems.
If your crew works around vehicles that have driver-assist features, using old or low-quality vests could mean your workers are less visible to drivers and the vehicle's safety systems.
The importance of compatibility
Modern vehicles use different technologies to "see" their surroundings:
- Cameras can detect colour and movement, but they have trouble in low light.
- Infrared sensors detect heat, not colour.
- LiDAR maps use reflected laser light to identify objects, but some surfaces reflect or absorb the light.
This means that a bright vest that you can see might not be as visible to a car's automatic systems.
A guide to picking safety vests that are easy for drivers to use
When shopping for vests that perform in the age of automation, look for these features:
- Certified Reflective Tape: Choose materials that meet the ANSI/ISEA 107 standard for reflective materials, which are designed to reflect a wide range of light.
- Fluorescent Fabric with the Same Colour All the Time: Some bright dyes fade quickly or do not show well under infrared and camera sensors.
- 360° Visibility Design: Make sure the vest offers reflective coverage from all angles – not just the front and back.
- Durability and ease of cleaning: Things like dust, oil and grime can make it harder for the sensor to detect the light.
- Create custom logos and stripes that won't block reflections. Your branding should look great and be easy to see.
At SafetyCustom.com, our custom safety vests are built for the modern job site—combining ANSI-certified reflective materials, durable fabrics, and customization options that meet your brand and safety needs.