The Importance of Pavement Marking for Road Safety
Pavement marking which is also known as road marking, helps the drivers to understand the geometric profile of the road. Pavement marking helps to guide the drivers to drive into their designated lanes. The chance of traffic congestion and bottleneck has also been reduces by the pavement marking. Road marking or pavement marking can be made from a variety of paint and materials which have different properties including longevity, reflectivity, and anti-skid properties.
Materials for pavement or road marking
There are different types of materials that have been used for road marking or pavement marking which include:
➢ The hot-applied thermoplastic compound is required for thermoplastic markings.
➢ Waterborne and solvent-borne road marking paint.
➢ Preformed adhesive tapes.
➢ Cold applied plastics.
Materials for pavement marking (a: paint, b: thermoplastics, c: two components resins, d: tapes)
The thermoplastic marking procedure has a fast drying time and is also highly durable. The thermoplastic marking is a mixture of resins and plasticizers. This thermoplastic hot has been applied in the molten state and at the ambient temperature, this thermoplastic has been solidified immediately. The thermoplastic marking has better reflective performance as compared to the other ordinary road marking paints. The service life of the one application of the thermoplastic marking is about 2 to 3 years in general. This service life of the thermoplastic markings depends on the volume of the traffic.
Road marking paints are one of the oldest forms of pavement marking materials which can be available in two types including solvent-based paints and water-based paints. The solvent-based paints have safety hazards for the workers as compared to the water-based paints. On the other hand, water-based paints is more easy to handle and environmentally friendly.
The cold-applied plastics help to provide audible raised pavement markings for the edge lines. This material is more durable as compared to the thermoplastic markings on the basis of the original colour retaining and luminance values.
The performed tapes do not require any kind of experienced operators or do not require a drying period. This is used for object marking purposes in high-traffic areas. This material helps to offer more service life in those locations with high traffic volumes in where there is a requirement for frequent replacement of pavement markings.
Types of pavement marking
Pavement marking or road marking has been classified into two types which are carriageway markings and object markings.
Carriageway markings
This type of road marking has been classified into two types which are longitudinal markings and transverse markings.
Longitudinal Markings
This type of marking is placed along the traffic direction on the surface of the roadway. This helps to inform the drivers bout their proper position in the roadway.
Centre Line
Centre line marking for two-lane road
In this case, there are two single broken lines present and the colour of the central line is yellow.
Centre line marking for four-lane road
In the case of the undivided roads with two traffic lanes in each direction, the marking of the central line consists of a single solid continuous line which is 150 mm wide along with lane markings of 1.5 m segments and 3 m gaps.
Centre line marking for six-lane road
In the case of the undivided roads with three traffic lanes in each direction, the marking of the central line consists of a double solid continuous line which is 150 mm wide along with lane markings of 1.5 m segments and 3 m gaps.
Traffic Lane Lines
This type of marking helps to promote safety on the road. These are the broken lines which can permit lane changing with caution.
No Overtaking Zone
This type of zone has been established on roads in which no traffic or central median is allowed in both directions of the road. In this zone, overtaking manoeuvres is prohibited due to the high traffic volume on the opposite side of the road.
Pavement Edge Lines
This is used to indicate the edges of f carriageways with having no curbs. These edge lines have served as visual guidelines for drivers and are useful during poor weather conditions and poor visibility.
Bus Lane Marking
This lane is reserved for the buses and the white line is provided as the bus lane marking.
Bicycle Lane Marking
This lane has been provided with a portion of the carriageway and used by motorized vehicles.
Transverse Markings
This type of marking has been marked at the intersection areas and also the approaches to the intersections. This type of road marking depends on space availability, speed characteristics of traffic and other variables. There are several transverse markings on approaches to intersections which are elaborated on below:
Stop Line
The stop line marking indicates the position beyond which should not proceed in case, there is a requirement to stop the vehicle by traffic police, signals or any kind of traffic control devices.
Pedestrian Crossings
This helps to minimize the number of pedestrian casualties on the road. The success of pedestrian crossings depends on where and how this is marked.
Bicycle Track Crossings
This type of crossing should be provided in the case of a cycle track crossing the road. Two white continuous lines across the carriageway have been comprised by this type of crossing.
Directional Arrows
Directional arrows help to guide the drivers in advance towards the correct lane that has been taken by them.
To learn more, watch the following video tutorial.
Video Source: Zutobi Drivers Ed
Marking at Rotaries
The exit road at rotaries has been indicated by the signs and the directional arrows which are placed at the edge of the central and directional island.
Object markings
The physical obstructions that create serious hazards to the traffic flow should have to be marked adequately.
Objects within carriageway
The obstructions within the carriageway should be marked by five alternate black and yellow stripes and those stripes should have to slope forward at a 45-degree angle with respect to the traffic direction.
Objects adjacent to the carriageway
In some cases, the objects should be marked with alternative black and white stripes at a 45-degree angle with respect to the traffic direction.
