What is Road Marking?
The essential purpose of road markings is to guide and control traffic on a highway. They supplement the function of traffic signs.
The markings serve as a psychological barrier and signify the delineation of the traffic path and its lateral clearance from traffic hazards for the safe movement of traffic. Hence they are very important to ensure the safe, smooth and harmonious flow of traffic.
Classification of road markings
The road markings are defined as lines, patterns, words or other devices, except signs, set into applied or attached to the carriageway or kerbs or to objects within or adjacent to the carriageway, for controlling, warning, guiding. and informing the users. The road markings are classified as longitudinal markings, transverse markings, object markings etc.
1. Longitudinal Road markings
Longitudinal markings are placed along the direction of traffic on the roadway surface, for the purpose of indicating to the driver, his proper position on the roadway. Different types of longitudinal markings are centre lines, traffic lanes, no passing zone, warning lines, border or edge lines, bus lane markings, cycle lane markings.
a) Centreline: The centreline separates the opposing streams of traffic and facilitates their movements. Usually, no centre line is provided for roads having a width less than 5 m and for roads having more than four lanes. The centre line may be marked with either single broken line, single solid line, double broken line, or double solid line depending upon the road and traffic requirements.
b) Traffic lane lines: The subdivision of wide carriageways into separate lanes on either side of the carriageway helps the driver to go straight and also curbs the meandering tendency of the driver. At intersections, these traffic lane lines will eliminate confusion and facilitate turning movements. Thus traffic lane markings help in increasing the capacity of the road in addition to ensuring more safety.
c) No. passing zones No passing zones are established on summit curves, horizontal, curves, and on two-lane and three-lane highways where overtaking maneuvers are prohibited because of low sight distance. It may be marked by a solid yellow line along the centre or a double yellow line.
d) Warning lines: Warning lines warn the drivers about the obstruction approaches. They are marked on horizontal and vertical curves where the visibility is greater than the prohibitory criteria specified for no-overtaking zones. They are broken lines with 6 m length and 3 m gap. A minimum of seven-line segments should be provided.
e) Edge lines: Edge lines indicate edges of rural roads that have no kerbs to delineate the limits up to which the driver can safely venture. They should be at least 150 mm from the actual edge of the pavement. They are painted in yellow or white.
2. Transverse Road markings
Transverse markings are marked across the direction of traffic. They are marked at intersections etc. The site conditions play a very important Transverse markings are marked across roles.
The type of road marking for a particular intersection depends on séveral variables such as speed characteristics of the traffic, availability of space etc. Stop line-markings, markings for pedestrian crossing, direction arrows, etc. are some of the markings on approaches to intersections.
a) Stop line: Stop line indicates the position beyond which the vehicles should not proceed when required to stop by control devices like signals or by traffic police. They should be placed either parallel to the intersecting roadway or at right angles to the direction of approaching vehicles.
b) Pedestrian crossings: Pedestrian crossings are provided at places where the conflict between vehicular and pedestrian traffic is severe. The site should be selected that there is less inconvenience to the pedestrians and also the vehicles are not interrupted too much.
c) Directional arrows: In addition to the warning lines on approaching lanes, directional arrows should be used to guide the drivers in advance over the correct lane to be taken while approaching busy intersections.
d) Object marking Physical obstructions in a carriageway like traffic islands or obstructions near the carriageway like signal posts, piers etc. cause a serious hazard to the flow of traffic and should be adequately marked. They may be marked on the objects adjacent to the carriageway.
I hope this article remains helpful for you.
Happy Learning – Civil Concept
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