Brighter Road Markings: Drivers Notice the Difference
SOLIDPLUS high performance glass beads from SWARCO clearly make a difference in the visibility of road markings.
Road marking systems reflectorized with SOLIDPLUS in field tests deliver RL of 1,000+ mcd/m²/lx and about 100 mcd/m²/lx under wet conditions (RW). On a road with a daily traffic load of about 8,000 standard vehicles, SWARCO compared the performance of a solventborne paint system reflectorized with standard glass beads with a premium system comprising waterborne high-performance paint Limboroute® W15 reflectorized with SOLIDPLUS drop-on glass beads. Measurement results speak a clear language in favour of the high-peformance system:
But how do the drivers perceive such high-performance markings? This was assessed by means of a questionnaire answered by 156 persons. “64% of the drivers reported to have noticed the installation of road markings with increased RL and 85% of the drivers who travelled through the test stretch at night during rain observed that the markings provided high RW”, reports Tomasz Burghardt from SWARCO’s Road Marking Systems Division. Furthermore, 85% of the drivers considered the enhancement of retroreflectivity as one of the principal factors in improving road safety. The questionnaire results, visualized in the chart, confirm that drivers do notice and appreciate horizontal road markings with high retroreflectivity at both dry and wet conditions.
Horizontal road markings with high RL were proven, via multi-year statistical analyses, to be associated with a reduced number of accidents. Therefore, road administrators should demand high RL to improve safety, to assure comfort of drivers, and to improve road safety. Since elderly drivers tend to focus on line markings during their nighttime driving, their quality of life can be significantly improved by introducing systems with high RL. Even though road marking systems with high RL can be initially more costly than standard systems, the expenditures will become insignificant when accidents are prevented, and quality of life is improved. Highly durable systems allow for overall long-term savings when compared to initially cheaper low-end solutions. Furthermore, they should be selected because they are more environmentally friendly.
SOLIDPLUS glass beads are a very versatile solution, indeed. They are suitable for reflectorizing all types of road marking materials applied either as thick- or thin-layer. High RL can be achieved with SOLIDPLUS glass beads not only in white, but also in yellow and orange markings. The possibility of intermixing SOLIDPLUS with standard glass beads is a crucial advantage for striping companies who seek high quality products to minimize claims in performance-based contracts.
