Driving needs the full attention and concentration of the driver. While you are on the road, you also need to take in a lot of information around your surroundings. Visual indicators, such as traffic signs and road markings, are essential in safe navigation.
Road markings are important in guiding drivers, especially if traffic signs are absent. That’s why the paint you use for road marking should possess various qualities, such as high visibility and durability, that increase road safety.
To create road markings that can serve drivers properly, here are the qualities your road paint should have.
Easy Application
The road marking process involves sealing off a certain portion of the road and working on it and eventually moving along the way as they paint. This can lead to certain streets becoming blocked off or getting narrower. That’s why road marking should be done as fast as possible.
Your paint should be easy to apply and fast to dry. In the Philippines, an example of road paint that has these characteristics is thermoplastic plaint. This paint variant is initially solid but melts and dries quickly, allowing you to shorten your work time.
In addition, when doing a road marking project, make sure to enforce a few rules to reduce heavy traffic and accidents. Lower the allowable speed limit in that street and inform drivers that will go through that street beforehand through bright, eye-catching signs.
High Reflectivity
Road markings should be easily visible to drivers no matter the time of day or weather. It will reduce the chance of car accidents from happening, especially at night. Drivers need indicators of sharp curves or inclines so that they can adjust in advance.
One of the ways to make road markings visible is using bright colors, commonly white or yellow. These reflect more light compared to other colors and will catch a driver’s attention well. Keep in mind that yellow separates lane direction, while white divides a lane in the same direction.
Some paints also use glass beads as an additive to increase reflectivity, especially at night. Drivers rely on their headlights during nighttime travel since the moon isn’t a good light source. This is especially useful in roads that don’t have lampposts.
Skid Resistance
When it rains or snows, roads become more slippery and dangerous for drivers. They will have more difficulty maneuvering sharp turns, and if they’re not careful, they can end up crashing and injuring themselves.
Keeping the roads skid-resistant is important in reducing accidents and keeping travelers safe. Increase the friction of the pavement using paint that has high skid resistance. This can help wet roads become safer to traverse compared to road paint that is also slippery.
When there is consistently heavy rainfall, drivers should be advised to drive in lower than usual speeds. To keep the roads skid-resistant, make sure to retexturize them frequently.
Weather Resistant
Roads undergo a lot of wear and tear every day, which can lead to road markings getting abraded. If your road paint is of low quality or wasn’t applied correctly, it can get erased and pose risks to drivers along that road.
Durable road markings last for at most four years. If it wears off earlier than two years, you might want to reconsider your choice of road paint. Road markings should remain sturdy, no matter the road conditions so that it can be a reliable indicator for drivers.
Keep these qualities in mind when determining what paint to use for your road markers. Make sure that your chosen material will fulfill these criteria so that you can have safer and easier roads to navigate for a long time.
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