EVALUATION OF PAVEMENT MARKINGS FOR IMPROVED VISIBILITY DURING WET NIGHT CONDITIONS
This study evaluated the night visibility of waffle tape and paint with large beads, particularly during wet night conditions. Data were collected at two sites along a primary arterial. The evaluation included an examination of (1) the application of the markings, (2) the visibility of the markings using retroreflectometer measurements and subjective assessments, and (3) the cost effectiveness of the markings. The study revealed: (1) compared to paint with standard beads, the waffle tape and paint with large beads were slightly more retroreflective during light rain at night and recovered quicker after flooding out; (2) the marginal improvement in visibility during periods of light rain do not offset the operational problems of applying paint with large beads; and (3) the benefits of waffle tape during light rain do not appear to justify its use solely for wet night visibility. Because of the above findings, snowplowable raised pavement markers, which are very visible in wet night conditions, appear to be more cost effective. The study recommends that (1)the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) continue to use and maintain snowplowable raised pavement markers for visibility during wet night conditions, (2) VDOT continue to monitor FHWA's study on all weather pavement markings, and (3) the Suffolk District consider testing nonsnowplowable raised pavement markers to assess their use as a low-cost alternative to improve visibility during wet night conditions where snowplowing occurs infrequently.
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- Record URL:
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Corporate Authors:
Virginia Transportation Research Council
530 Edgemont Road
Charlottesville, VA United States 22903Virginia Department of Transportation
1401 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA United States 23219Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC United States 20590 -
Authors:
- Cottrell Jr, B H
- Publication Date: 1996-5
Language
- English
Media Info
- Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
- Pagination: 18 p.
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Cost effectiveness; Field tests; Glass beads; Moisture content; Night; Performance evaluations; Raised road markings; Retroreflectivity; Road marking tapes; Traffic paint; Visibility
- Uncontrolled Terms: Field measurements; Subjective analysis; Wet conditions
- Old TRIS Terms: Raised traffic markings; Traffic marking tapes
- Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Materials; Operations and Traffic Management; I35: Miscellaneous Materials; I73: Traffic Control;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00725525
- Record Type: Publication
- Report/Paper Numbers: Final Report, VTRC 96-R33
- Contract Numbers: 0176-030-940
- Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
- Created Date: Sep 5 1996 12:00AM