Among all the standard driving safety devices such as seat belts and air bags, one of the most useful and invisible road features is line markings. These simple white or yellow lines show drivers their lane boundaries, indicate no-passing zones and indicate directional directions in some cases. They are so common that most motorists don’t even notice them until they’re missing them!

To create these guiding marks, coating materials must juggle two priorities: drying time and durability. The former is important to minimize disruptions to traffic, while the latter is essential for surviving constant exposure to sunlight and ultraviolet radiation, temperature fluctuations, flexing of roads and physical abuse from vehicles. The choice of material depends on these factors as well as whether a road will need to be resurfaced soon, how much traffic it might carry, and whether snowplows are likely to scrape off a thick coat of paint.

Unlocking the Secrets of Line Marking: Everything You Need to Know

In some cases, longer white lines are used to contrast with darker pavement surfaces (e.g., asphalt or concrete). They are also painted wider than standard markings to improve visibility in fog and mist.

On two-lane roadways, single broken white lines usually mean that passing is permitted; double solid white lines indicate that passing is not allowed, as in tunnels. In addition to white line markings, a variety of other color markings are used.

In manufacturing and industrial areas, line markings and floor colors help create safer working environments for workers with forklifts or other moving vehicles. They delineate pathways and zones, provide visual and tactile cues for navigating machinery, and help ensure that all employees are safe at all times.