The Importance of Road Marking Visibility to Road Safety

Road safety relies on who’s behind the wheel and what’s on the road. We cannot expect a driver to be knowledgeable about traffic rules if there are no rules to follow in the first place. That is why road markings are extremely important.

Visible and understandable road markers ensure drivers are guided, but they serve more than just cars. The key here is longevity-look for suppliers of thermoplastic road marking paint, which can withstand a lot of heat and friction. Here’s why they must stay visible for as long as possible.

Photo by Louai Munajim

How road markings help with road safety

They regulate heavy traffic

Let’s start with the obvious: road markers help guide traffic flow. They make vehicle lanes distinct, including the presence of bicycle lanes, motorcycle lanes, and other special lanes.

Clear yellow boxes, as well as single or double solid lines, allow vehicles that are turning, overtaking, or exiting to stay safe in their lane. A street that’s been visibly designed as one-way, two-way, or no-entry also contributes to faster traffic flow.

They keep pedestrians safe

According to local agency reports, jaywalking causes 54% of road accidents. That is troubling statistics that are rooted in both the lack of discipline, as well as inadequate, if not non-existent, pedestrian crossing lanes.

Clear road markers assist drivers as much as they do pedestrians. When pedestrian crossing lanes are visible, drivers are more compelled to stop and stay alert.

They guide beginner drivers

If you’ve driven the streets since time immemorial, you might have developed the muscle memory to navigate the metro. However, we can’t always say the same for novice drivers.

Everything has to be made visible to them. Directional markers, speed limits, entry and exit signs-all these help them understand the roads faster and better.

Photo by KML

They prevent parking snags

Parking obstruction laws only work well if the right road markers accompany them. Designated parking spaces on the roadside help ease traffic by providing foresight.

Correct road markings on the access points of parking facilities also let other drivers know if someone is entering or exiting, thus preventing untoward accidents.

They assist the disabled

Road markings also assist disabled drivers in finding parking bays in establishments.

But more than just parking, clear road markings like stop lines and road boundaries help disabled drivers and pedestrians turn, cross roads, and navigate the city safely.

They maintain highway efficiency

In fast-paced, high-volume highways, both visible overhead signs and road markings ensure that drivers going at over 60 kilometers per hour drive safely and efficiently. They must be able to see and respond in time to yields and curves, exiting vehicles, and changing speed limits.

We might take them for granted on regular roads, but longitudinal markings in highways serve as psychological barriers to keep vehicles in line.

They reduce traffic aide costs

Imagine how much money local governments and traffic agencies could save if, in place of traffic aides who work around the clock, clear road markings do the job of keeping traffic at bay.

Traffic enforcers can simply monitor vehicular offenses with the help of surveillance cameras and apprehend offenders under no-contact policies. Now that’s good money that could be used for something else.

The benefits speak for themselves. If road markings in your vicinity are starting to fade, remind your local government to revitalize them immediately.

SEE ALSO:
THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO ROAD SAFETY FOR KIDS
THE ROLE OF PAVING CONTRACTORS IN MAKING DRIVEWAYS, WALKWAYS AND ROADS
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