Road markings are a vital part of our transport infrastructure, and given how often they’ve hit the headlines in recent years, their design, installation and maintenance are clearly very important to the general public. By warning us of upcoming hazards, delineating lanes, helping us navigate and providing key information, road markings are essential to keeping us all moving safely and smoothly.
In the UK, the bodies responsible for maintaining road markings depend on the type of road in question, and with 12.17 billion British pounds spent on the roads every year, looking after them is a significant undertaking.
The Importance of Well-Maintained Road Markings
Whether they are on a major motorway or in a small private car park, road markings provide instruction to road users that, with time, they learn to read intuitively, helping to create a seamless driving experience. Delivering information in this instantly understandable way is critical because the smallest moment of confusion or indecision can mean the difference between getting home safely and having an accident.
This is something all road users recognise because – while we may not often think about road markings when they are working well – it quickly becomes apparent when they are substandard in any way. For example, public concerns over road markings in Warmley made the local news when the painted lines around a roundabout faded to a degree that people were worried they represented an accident waiting to happen.
Faded road markings can be confusing on two levels. Firstly, there may be active and relevant markings which are hard for drivers to see (especially in low-light conditions).
Secondly, they can turn up as ‘ghost markings’ – defunct faint white lines that remain after a refurb. Both can lead to poor lane discipline and impaired decision-making. As well as being confusing and dangerous, driving instructors also complain that teaching novice motorists how to read the road is far more difficult when road markings are poor.
This is because instructors have to rely on students memorising the correct action in unclear areas, rather than learning how to take cues from the road itself to understand what they are meant to do.
Who Maintains Road Markings on Local Roads?
Local authorities are responsible for maintaining road markings on the roads and streets that fall under their jurisdiction. This can include everything from quiet residential streets to busy A-roads, and it is likely that the specialist road markings you see outside schools, on cycle and bus lanes, and next to key areas -such as fire stations- will be under the purview of your local council.
Keeping these road markings clear and up to date is a big task and one that cash-strapped councils can struggle with. In 2016, a review found that almost 33% of road markings on local authority-controlled roads needed replacing immediately, a further 20% needed to be scheduled for replacement, and only 18% met the industry-recommended safety standard.
Councils are also often under pressure to diversify travel methods and make their populations healthier by encouraging active travel, facilitating public transport usage and reducing localised pollution. These initiatives may include reducing the amount of road space for motorists with dedicated alternative transport lanes, instituting low-traffic neighbourhoods and enforcing speed limits in residential areas – all of which can attract ire from inconvenienced car drivers.
All of these factors mean councils are often first in the line of fire for public annoyance concerning both degraded road markings and controversial new projects (or the lack of them). Despite the challenges, however, councillors work hard to ensure that roads are maintained to the best possible standard with the resources they have on hand – balancing the needs of every traveller and resident to reach a good compromise.
If you ever need to report a problem with road markings to the council, there is usually an online portal where you can do so, or you can phone their helpline – there is likely to be a specific number dedicated to road enquiries.
Who Maintains Road Markings on Motorways?
In England, National Highways manages what’s known as the ‘strategic road network’ – the motorways and major A-Roads which keep the country moving. Across the UK, Transport for Scotland, the Welsh Government and the Northern Irish Department for Infrastructure have similar authority over their own areas.
As part of their goal to ensure that roads are designed and maintained to the highest possible level of safety, these bodies oversee road marking projects to ensure that drivers have the best possible journey. Over the long term, the ambitious Road to Zero Harm project from National Highways aims to develop safety standards to the extent that no one is killed or seriously injured on the strategic road network.
The Role of the Department of Transport
The Department of Transport is a ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom, and its role is to provide guidelines for National Highways and local authorities regarding road markings, street signs and other essential road infrastructure. The Traffic Signs Manual is the most important document in this regard and cannot be overruled.
Therefore, while local authorities and highway organisations are responsible for the implementation and maintenance of road markings, it is the Department of Transport that decides types, sizes, and placement. As we’ve seen with modern, ‘unusual’ road marking projects, however, local authorities do have a certain amount of creative freedom within these guidelines.
Road Markings and Contractors
As we’ve established, government institutions are in charge of road marking projects, but when it comes to implementing them, they need the help of outside contractors. Companies like Hi-Way Services operate fleets of specialist machinery and employ experts so we can coordinate with stakeholders, provide consultation and ultimately install road markings in our local communities and beyond. By having specialists on hand, authorities can ensure they are getting the best advice and the right skill set to do the job properly.
As road and line marking specialists, we’ve worked on everything from national highways to school playgrounds, and we are hugely enthusiastic about how well-designed and installed markings can serve to improve the environment we live and travel in. Keeping road markings in the best possible condition isn’t only a matter of civic pride, it is an integral part of keeping road users safe – which is why we are proud to provide the services we do. If you’d like to find out more, speak to our team.
