Evaluation of Performance of Permanent Pavement Markings

Abstract

As an implementation strategy of the federal retroreflectivity standards requirement for pavement markings, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) evaluated its 3-year fixed-schedule restriping strategy, to determine if it is consistent with the actual service life of the pavement markings. The methodology and results of the study are presented. Two types of data were collected: measured retroreflectivity by using LaserLux and subjective ratings from a survey conducted with the participation of the New Jersey driving public along a 32-mi circuit. Multiple regression techniques were used to correlate the average scores reported by the study participants for each specific roadway section with the corresponding measured retroreflectivity. The results suggested that the threshold value of an acceptable versus unacceptable level of retroreflectivity appeared to be between 80 and 130 mcd/m2/lux for New Jersey drivers younger than 55 and between 120 and 165 mcd/m2/lux for drivers older than 55. These results are consistent with conclusions reached by other investigators in similar research, where results generally ranged between 70 and 170 mcd/m2/lux. Interim visibility indices were developed for each age group per pavement-marking type. New Jersey DOT used the indices to determine and prioritize needs and to quantify needed related resources, on the basis of the threshold between acceptable retroreflectivity and unacceptable retroreflectivity, when it developed its pavement-marking management system. This approach also allows for cost-benefit and life-cycle analysis for different pavementmarking materials.

Model for Predicting Road Markings Service Life

“…Additionally, the data obtained based on the final model, as shown in the Eq. (1), and the minimum levels of retroreflectivity required by drivers and defined in the previous research (Debaillon, Carlson, He, Schnell, & Aktan, 2007;Graham, Harrold, & King, 1996;Loetterle, Beck, & Carlson, 2000;Parker & Meja, 2003) enabled the calculation of the markings service life. Researchers calculated that the service life of solvent-borne paint road markings with the minimum level of retroreflectivity of 100 mcd/ lx/m 2 is 753.61 days, while with the minimum retroreflectivity level of 150 mcd/lx/m 2 it is 393.60 days.…”

Determining the impact of directionality on road markings retroreflectivity using dynamic method

“…Previous research associated with road markings is mostly related to markings retroreflectivity. After researching the subjective evaluations of markings nighttime visibility, the authors (Graham et al 1996;Loetterle et al 2000;Parker, Meja 2003;Debaillon et al 2007) suggest that the minimum retroreflectivity values should amount to: 100, 120, 150 and 130-140 mcd/m 2 •lx.…”

Assessment of the Performance of Road Markings in Urban Areas: The Outcomes of the CIVITAS RENAISSANCE Project

“…The European standard EN 1436 [15] defines the quality requirements for road markings, in terms of night and day visibility, colour and skid resistance, but it does not specify how some factors (such as road surface, installation conditions, age, traffic conditions) influence the efficiency and durability of adherence and retro-reflectivity properties [16][17][18][19]. Therefore a scientific approach is needed in order to define a modus operandi for in-situ measurements, to take into account the characteristics of the site of installation of road markings.…”