Critical Insights into White and Yellow Light Marks on Various Asphalt Pavements: A Comparative Analysis

Abstract

The traffic safety problem is of crucial importance worldwide, and one way to enhance it is by using high-quality road markings. While much attention has been paid to retroreflection standards and road marking visibility, less focus has been given to the effect of asphalt mixtures. Addressing this knowledge gap is essential for achieving comprehensive improvements in road safety. The present study investigates the impact of three asphalt mixtures on the retroreflectivity of road pavement surfaces. The findings indicate that white road markings exhibit varying retroreflectivity values depending on the asphalt mixture. Among the three types tested—the “Basalt” and “Zebra” dense, coarse-graded mixtures and the “Tama” stone mastic mixture—the “Basalt” mixture was most effective in enhancing road marking prominence, showing higher initial retroreflectivity values. Additionally, no effect of the asphalt mixture was observed concerning yellow road markings; data analysis revealed a significant spread in retroreflectivity values for white and yellow road markings across different asphalt mixtures and identified a relationship between these and the AADT (annual average daily traffic). The mean values of retroreflectivity follow a fractional power pattern, as indicated by the high regression coefficient of the cross-correlation line between the calculated and measured retroreflectivity values.