Of more than 60 single-carriageway A-roads surveyed, on average 14% of road markings are ‘completely worn out’, and a further 15% fall into the ‘amber’ zone and should immediately be scheduled for replacement. Just 29% of lines reach the acceptable level of visibility.
Of the 470 miles of A roads and motorways surveyed, one in five falls below the minimum specifiable standard, while 8% have centre line markings that are barely visible. And while 39% of dual carriageways and 38% of motorways make the recommended rating used by the industry, this is a drop in quality since 2008, when 69% of markings on duals and 49% on motorways reached this grade.
“Two years ago, just 2% of our major road network had markings that rated virtually non-existent. This figure has risen at an alarming rate and now nearly a tenth of the centre lines of our trade routes are dangerously worn.
“Most of the single-carriageway A-roads in the survey are managed solely by local authorities. The RSMA is concerned that Highways Agency ratings for road markings have never been formally adopted by local authorities, leading to inconsistent maintenance standards on UK roads and the potential for the significant maintenance shortfalls identified in the RSMA report.
“Road markings provide the best, most simple navigation aid to drivers, who must to be able to ‘read’ the road at every turn. Without this most modest of investments, motorists are driving blind when we can, in fact, save lives for the cost of a pot of paint.”
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