Benefits of Pavement Markings & Signage
Whether you’re walking down the pavement or driving on the road, pavement markings are a common sight for all of us. There are a large number of pavement markings, and many of them have been updated over the years to reflect changing times. Pavement markings play an important role in ensuring the safety of both pedestrians and vehicle drivers. Here’s a closer look at the various benefits of pavement markings and signings. As a caveat, the benefits are contingent on the belief that all parties, drivers included, will adhere to the signs.
Improve Nighttime Visibility
Driving at night can be tricky even in the best of conditions. Visibility is poor and the circadian rhythm works to keep us a little drowsy later in the night. Bright lights from oncoming traffic can sometimes be blinding too. Reflective pavement line markings help make nighttime driving a little safer. Reputed civil engineering firms such as Civil Design, Inc. ensure the markings are highly visible even in conditions such as rain or fog. The markings can be especially useful for long-haul truck drivers who can often be fatigued during the last legs of their journey.
Prevent Collisions While Driving
The white and yellow lines on the road are vital for ensuring collisions don’t occur and traffic moves smoothly. The white lines on the road indicate traffic lanes all going in one direction. They can also define the location of the shoulder of the road. When the lines are dotted, they indicate the center line between lanes. Yellow lines indicate traffic moving in different directions. On roads marked with yellow lines, you should stay on your side of the line to avoid collisions with oncoming traffic. However, the yellow lines can be crossed if you’re getting off the street by turning left into areas such as a residential area or a smaller road.
Keep Pedestrians Safe
Street signs help cars and heavy vehicles navigate correctly. They thus prevent the vehicles from endangering pedestrians on the sides of the road. Street signs can also help reduce jaywalking, which causes a significant number of accidents per year. Some signs indicate speed limits around areas such as schools, thus helping keep children safe. Similarly, pavement crossings help the young and the old cross the road safely. Additionally, pavement signs such as those used to indicate parking spots for the handicapped, help serve the needs of the disabled community much better.
Improve the Efficiency of the Transport Infrastructure
Traffic signs and pavement markings streamline the flow of traffic and bring in an element of discipline in the transport process. Similarly, since pavement signs can be used to clearly indicate on highways which type of vehicles go there is a lower risk of accidents and confusion that typically lead to delays. The outcome is a much more efficient transport system with faster-moving traffic.
Pavement markings help both pedestrians and vehicle drivers navigate roads better. Knowing what the various pavement markings mean can make commuting and driving much easier.
