The department found that lane departure crashes fell by 13% after installing durable road signs.
A North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) study shows that the number of serious crashes decreased after durable markings were installed on rural roads.
The study includes results from a pilot project in which the department used thermoplastic markings, which NCDOT says are more durable and reflect headlights better thanks to glass beads embedded in the plastic paint. The new material was applied to 400 miles of rural two-lane roads across the state between 2014 and 2017.
“Safety is our top priority, and we continually evaluate new initiatives to reduce crashes and traffic fatalities,” NCDOT Secretary Eric Boyette said in a statement.
The department found that lane departure accidents, such as vehicles running off the road, dropped by 13 percent after adding durable markings to the road. Better lane markings can help drivers better navigate roads and turns, especially at night or in the rain. In some cases, the department also applies markings that are 6 inches wide instead of the standard 4 inches to improve visibility.
More than half of crashes in North Carolina that result in death or serious injury involve vehicles leaving their lanes, according to NCDOT. The department focused the pilot on rural two-lane roads because they account for a disproportionate number of these crashes. One of the main reasons is that North Carolina has one of the highest vehicle mileage rates on rural two-lane roads in the country.
State Highway Engineer Kevin Lacey said durable pavement markings are 40 percent more expensive than traditional road paint, but they are more visible at night and in the rain and last five to seven years compared with the average two-year lifespan of regular road paint. painting cycle.
“This is a proactive and systematic approach to improving safety that will significantly reduce the number of accidents,” Lacey said in a statement. Between 2015 and 2019, the department spent $64 million on secondary roads. Thermoplastic markings. Lacey said the department will continue to invest in durable lane markings.
Post time: Oct-17-2024