.gif)
The Road Safety Markings Association (RSMA) has announced that it is to carry out a comprehenive survey of the state of white lines across the UK.
George Lee, RSMA national director, says: “We have identified a series of routes which cover motorways and major A roads managed by the Highways Agency, Transport Scotland and the Welsh Assembly, as well as lesser A and B roads managed by local authorities.
“We recognise that the UK is currently under huge financial pressure, but road markings are widely recognised to provide the best, most simple and cost-effective navigation aid to drivers – and previous surveys have found white lines reduced to the level of the faintest chalk mark.”
RSMA points to figures recently published by the DfT which show that around 40% of night-time collisions on motorways and rural roads occurred in the wet, and 34% of collisions caused by permanent road sign/marking defects occurred during the night – of which 35% are where there is no street lighting.
George Lee continued: “Currently, the Highways Agency and many local authorities are turning off motorway and street lighting – which makes high quality, well-maintained road markings absolutely imperative, if drivers are to be able to find their way on the darkest, wettest night.
“By conducting the survey this summer, we anticipate that roads in and around London will show significant improvement over previous years’ results, as the Capital’s network has been spruced up for the Jubiliee and Olympics.”
RSMA will publish it findings in the autum.
Glad u mentioned IPSGA Dave, someone is at least doing their homework. Unfortunately wet and slippy white lines are not the things that a four wheeler has to take into consideration, and to a twv do not stand alone as the only things that a motorcyclists has to accommodate to keep himself safe. There are too many to fill this page.
It would be a good idea if other road safety officers obtained a copy of that Police Instruction Manual and the IHIE guidelines for motorcycles, then we will all be singing from the same hymnbook.
No, there are no stats available re road markings but that’s because they are dismissed as being the norm, for car drivers that is.
bob craven Lancs
0
The riding system (as taught by the police I believe): Information, position, speed, gear, acceleration – Information: road surface is wet, white lines in road ahead, if wet could be slippery, position: avoid white line… yes, sometimes you do have to ride over paint in the road but do it upright and not while braking and there’s no drama.
I’d rather we dealt with the real major issues posing a threat to rider safety generally not getting side tracked by minor issues like this. How many PTW KSI’s did road markings cause in the last 5 years?
Dave, Leeds
0
And now onto the subject matter.
Motorcyclists in Blackpool will be pleased to know that white lines on major trunk roads are not being replaced due to cost cutting. This policy has been in force for about 4 yrs. They, like minor roads, will do without centre lines unless there is a hazard such as a crossing or junction.
It has been mentioned that the white paint includes an anti slip content. This doesn’t work, has never worked and no one cares. Why should they, it only concerns 1% of the motoring public. In the 1950s in swimming baths they had an anti slip paint that did work. Pity no one told the highway engineers what the formula was.
bob craven Lancs
0
Dave,
I am 63 yrs of age, have been a police officer for most of my adult life, a first aid instructor within the police service and the assistant development officer for St John Ambulance Association Greater Manchester for a number of years so I know where I am coming from and what I am saying.
How on earth u can say avoid the white lines is beyond my comprehension and shows just what u know or don’t know about the workings of a motorcycle. Believe me when I say white lines of any shape, size, height and in use all over the road so one cannot but ride over them – and when wet the anti slip is completely useless – can be absolutely lethal.
I suggest u read the Paper prepared by the Inst of Highway Engineers, recomendations re production of roads etc. with regards to twv – it may change your mind.
bob craven
0
Bob, most white line paint is now textured to reduce the danger of skidding on them. Advice to a PTW rider is to treat road markings as a potential hazard and respond accordingly. If you can see a patch of ice, a diesel spill or a mini roundabout ahead don’t ride over it.
Dave, Leeds
0
For the information of those interested or working in road safety, does anyone know about the effects that white lines and/or an increase or replacement of such lines have to a twv?
Simply, they make it extremely dangerous; first some lines are overpainted and thus become higher, they become a rail track to take the front or rear wheel of a twv away from its normal course, this can end up with loss of control of the twv, something not the fault of the rider.
More importantly, when wet the paint is lethal. Like riding on ice, with little or no grip needed for safe riding. This is particularly dangerous with raised mini roundabouts and/or the painted raised islands that soemtime lead into them.
White lines do not present any such dangers to any other traffic except our cousins on cycles.
Bob Craven Lancs
0
It’s probably less about the lines and more about getting road users to actually take notice of them and know what they mean. ‘Give Way’ and ‘no overtaking’ seem (to me at least) to be the most commonly abused and oddly enough cause the most collisions.
Dave, Leeds
0
Are they just looking at white lines only? My beef is with the coloured strips on approach to roundabouts designed as indicators which get closer the one’s vehicle gets and seem to get higher.
No problem in a car with its robust suspension on 4 wheels but very dangerous for a motorcycle with its less powerfull and more sensitive front forks. The problem is exacerbated by having to slow down, thus putting more pressure on the front suspension, and further that they continue on the bend just prior to the roundabout, when the bike is no longer straight up but in a turn. It’s no wonder that front fork oil seals need replacing more often, every 3 yrs instead of 6 or 7, and that accidents happen on roundabouts made more dangerous by such constructions.
bob craven lancs
0
It’s interesting how Local Councils always seem to keep yellow lines in a tip-top condition…
Josh, East Yorkshire
0