Image: RAC
The RAC has raised safety concerns on the back of new research showing a fifth of drivers (21%) claim most road markings in their local areas have faded away.
The research, carried out for the RAC Driver Opinion Panel, sampled the views of 1,693 respondents. It also found that 71% said some road markings in their local areas have faded away.
When asked whether they believe faded road markings are a recent problem, nearly three-quarters of those questioned (72%) said the issue has gotten worse in the last five years. Concerningly, 92% believe it’s made driving more dangerous.
The most frequently cited markings that have disappeared are arguably some of the most important of all – the lines at the centre of carriageways that separate lanes of traffic, including solid single, double and broken white lines. Half (50%) of drivers stated these were the most commonly faded.
Almost half of drivers (48%) say arrows on roundabouts or junctions have faded to grey while 44% reported that ‘give way’ markings have vanished. Similar proportions claim the paint on yellow box markings (43%), stop lines at junctions (41%) and speed limit signs painted on the road (36%) have gone.
Other markings that drivers say have worn away to the detriment of road safety include areas of hatching (29%) (diagonal white lines separating lanes or protecting turning zones); bus or cycle lane markings (22%); zebra crossing stripes (24%); and cycle boxes/advanced stop lines at traffic lights (17%).
The consequences of the widespread disappearance of road markings range from drivers having to guess where lanes are (63%) to ending up in the wrong lane (38%).
Almost a fifth (19%) say they’ve had a confrontation or been beeped by another road user as a result, while the same proportion (19%) have accidentally had to cut across lanes at short notice. Meanwhile 16% have had a near-miss and 13% have overshot a junction because they couldn’t see solid stop lines or ‘give way’ markings on the road.
An overwhelming 84% of drivers believe that road safety in their areas would be improved if road markings were repainted, while 91% wish their local authority did a better job ensuring painted road markings are clearly visible.
Simon Williams, RAC head of policy, said: “Drivers are widely reporting that road markings have been left to fade into obscurity, making roads less safe as a result. The problem appears to have got progressively worse as a majority of drivers say the visibility of markings has deteriorated in the last five years.
“And, while all painted lines are important to ensure drivers do the right thing, the fact some, such as those dividing lanes and even stop lines are disappearing, is troubling.
“It’s frightening to think almost one-in-five of drivers have had a near-miss as a result of faded road markings and more than one-in-10 have overshot a junction. Leaving these most vital markings to just wear away makes no sense whatsoever.
“While there’s clearly a cost to maintaining them, the cost of letting them disappear doesn’t bear thinking about.”
As a commercial driving assessor, my job is to observe my driver, and, by extension, all other road users in our vicinity. Being in a predominently rural area, it is very noticeable how white lines in particular have not so much faded, but simply been worn away. The main culprits for this are motorists themselves, by failing to steer accurately. The most worn white lines are generally on bends and curves where motorists fail to steer accurately enough to stay within their lane or their own side of the carriageway and veer over the centre line, quite often due to excess speed. Electric vehicles, with their extra weight and more robust tyres, will only make this situation worse. The extra torque exerted when driving away from ATC’s will inevitably wear white lines down more quickly. Roads used extensively by HGV’s and PCV’s are also very prone to this, all due to poor steering control and extra weight.
White lines at ATC’s tend to be worn down by motorists who brake late and harshly when unprepared for the lights changing to red. This can also be seen where shell grip has been laid, usually at crossings or junctions and the surface has been ground away by late brakers.
Philip Hastings, Shaftesbury
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