Poor marks for UK’s white lines

The UK’s road markings are said to be vanishing rapidly, according to a new survey by a leading highways organisation. A snapshot survey of nearly 500 miles by the Road Safety Markings Association (RMSA) revealed that well over half of white lines in Scotland and Wales are almost non-existent, and England’s fare little better. On average, the RSMA survey found that 50.6% of the UK’s surveyed road markings are barely visible. And almost a quarter (23%) of roads are classified as needing ‘emergency repairs’.
June 19, 2012 Read time: 1 min
UK's vanishing white lines present road safety problem. Picture: Bauke Karel.
The UK’s road markings are said to be vanishing rapidly, according to a new survey by a leading highways organisation.

A snapshot survey of nearly 500 miles by the 5149 Road Safety Markings Association (RMSA) revealed that well over half of white lines in Scotland and Wales are almost non-existent, and England’s fare little better. On average, the RSMA survey found that 50.6% of the UK’s surveyed road markings are barely visible. And almost a quarter (23%) of roads are classified as needing ‘emergency repairs’. Less than 7% of road markings scored the highest rating.

The RSMA carried out the latest spot-check across a range of motorways and major A roads managed by the 2309 Highways Agency, and lesser A and B roads managed by local authorities.
Road Markings, Barriers & Workzone Protection

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • ARTBA highlights US bridge issues
    May 10, 2016
    The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) is calling for more bridge repairs in the US. There are still too many structurally deficient bridges in the country according to a recent analysis. This report states that while there were 2,574 fewer structurally deficient bridges in 2015 compared to the number in 2014, there are still 58,500 on the structurally deficient list. Worse still, at the current pace of bridge investment it will take at least 21 years before these bridges are all r
    Read More
  • Fugro plans UK road conference for July
    April 24, 2013
    Survey specialist Fugro is setting out plans for an upcoming highways seminar, which will be held in July 2013 in Birmingham. The firm has been involved with the Developments in Pavement Assessment conference for the last 12 years and is now relaunching the event with a broader view to include all elements of the highway network. The 13th edition of the one day conference is now being retitled Developments in Highways Assessment (DIHA). The event is aimed at highway engineers, network and asset managers, th
    Read More
  • Road safety gain for UK in 2013
    June 26, 2014
    The UK’s Department for Transport (DfT) reveals that the road fatality rate for 2013 was the lowest since records began in 1926. The data shows that 1,713 people died on the UK’s road network in 2013, around half that of the figure recorded for the year 2000. This reveals an on-going improvement in road safety levels. The DfT statistics show that in 2013, 21,657 people were seriously injured in road crashes, while the total number of casualties of all severities stood at 183,670. Car occupant fatalities in
    Read More
  • Pothole patching problem for UK
    March 5, 2012
    In the UK severe winter conditions for the second year in succession have resulted in an increase in the number of pavement surface failures and potholes developing.
    Read More

Highlighted Content