Your Opinion As A Motorist: Contrasting Lane Lines

[TheArkansasRoadgeek]

Considering all types of lane line and contrast lane line designs, which style, as a motorist do you think improves visibility on the roadway? Here in Arkansas, we use "edge contrasting" lane lines for light colored pavement. I have seen in states elsewhere that use a black-white or a black-white-black contrasting lane line. I have also seen in Texas a "border style" design. If I missed any (I'm sure I did, please fill in the blanks).

[jakeroot]

The necessity of this new contrasting style reminds me of why I prefer asphalt roadways (regardless of maintenance requirements). Assuming the road is concrete, I prefer the style where the two markings are placed one before the other (in a row).

WSDOT has begun using the contrasting lane lines with new sections of concrete roadway. Two types are used (randomly, from the looks of it)...

- The black-white (or white-black) skipping style (where the two colors are placed one before the other): https://goo.gl/hQm6Pf
- The black-white-black "border style" (where black surrounds all but the top and bottom of the white marking): https://goo.gl/PbbGwe

WSDOT is also achieving a contrasting style using an odd mix of botts dots and raised-rib markings along the 520 bridge (the permanent section -- the under-construction section is all botts dots):

[Sam]

I'd prefer something that can be seen on rainy nights under streetlights. Lines disappear when light hits a wet road surface after dark.

[Rothman]

I'd prefer something that can be seen on rainy nights under streetlights. Lines disappear when light hits a wet road surface after dark.

NY loves disappearing markings.

[JJBers]

I'd prefer something that can be seen on rainy nights under streetlights. Lines disappear when light hits a wet road surface after dark.

NY loves disappearing markings.

*cough cough* Connecticut is worse

[TheArkansasRoadgeek]

The necessity of this new contrasting style reminds me of why I prefer asphalt roadways (regardless of maintenance requirements). Assuming the road is concrete, I prefer the style where the two markings are placed one before the other (in a row).

WSDOT has begun using the contrasting lane lines with new sections of concrete roadway. Two types are used (randomly, from the looks of it)...

- The black-white (or white-black) skipping style (where the two colors are placed one before the other): https://goo.gl/hQm6Pf
- The black-white-black "border style" (where black surrounds all but the top and bottom of the white marking): https://goo.gl/PbbGwe

WSDOT is also achieving a contrasting style using an odd mix of botts dots and raised-rib markings along the 520 bridge (the permanent section -- the under-construction section is all botts dots):

In photos and videos, I have seen where CalTrans and other states can't seem to have a universal contrasting lane line design (like here), regardless of following the national MUTCD or other. So WSDOT is "expirementing" with the edge contrasting design or has that been around? I don't know what it is, but I seem to perfer the contrasting edge lane line design, I see more functionality in that design than the black-white-black or the black-white (and vis a versa). I have noticed that when the white color in the edge lane line design fades, the black contrast lines function very well as reference points for where the adjacent lane is at night or day. Which, it could just be me spending more time in one area (every now and then we go out of state).

[jwolfer]

The necessity of this new contrasting style reminds me of why I prefer asphalt roadways (regardless of maintenance requirements). Assuming the road is concrete, I prefer the style where the two markings are placed one before the other (in a row).

WSDOT has begun using the contrasting lane lines with new sections of concrete roadway. Two types are used (randomly, from the looks of it)...

- The black-white (or white-black) skipping style (where the two colors are placed one before the other): https://goo.gl/hQm6Pf
- The black-white-black "border style" (where black surrounds all but the top and bottom of the white marking): https://goo.gl/PbbGwe

WSDOT is also achieving a contrasting style using an odd mix of botts dots and raised-rib markings along the 520 bridge (the permanent section -- the under-construction section is all botts dots):

In Florida even the asphalt roadways get bleached to almost white In the sun.. I always like the skip lines... Even had black and yellow back in the day...

Now it seems FDOT is using black edges to white.. Makes solid white more visible

LGMS428

[jakeroot]

The necessity of this new contrasting style reminds me of why I prefer asphalt roadways (regardless of maintenance requirements). Assuming the road is concrete, I prefer the style where the two markings are placed one before the other (in a row).

WSDOT has begun using the contrasting lane lines with new sections of concrete roadway. Two types are used (randomly, from the looks of it)...

- The black-white (or white-black) skipping style (where the two colors are placed one before the other): https://goo.gl/hQm6Pf
- The black-white-black "border style" (where black surrounds all but the top and bottom of the white marking): https://goo.gl/PbbGwe

WSDOT is also achieving a contrasting style using an odd mix of botts dots and raised-rib markings along the 520 bridge (the permanent section -- the under-construction section is all botts dots):

http://i.imgur.com/YQShr22.png

In photos and videos, I have seen where CalTrans and other states can't seem to have a universal contrasting lane line design (like here), regardless of following the national MUTCD or other. So WSDOT is "expirementing" with the edge contrasting design or has that been around? I don't know what it is, but I seem to perfer the contrasting edge lane line design, I see more functionality in that design than the black-white-black or the black-white (and vis a versa). I have noticed that when the white color in the edge lane line design fades, the black contrast lines function very well as reference points for where the adjacent lane is at night or day. Which, it could just be me spending more time in one area (every now and then we go out of state).

The first link (the white-black skipping style) was installed before the second link (the black-white-black style). So, my best guess is that their preference is for the edge-marking style (black-white-black). Another section of freeway now uses this style (90 for a stretch between the 5 and Mount Baker Tunnels) (see here).

Judging by the bridge video-still above (which I took only a few weeks ago), WSDOT will use the traditional white-black skipping style when using raised reflectors (botts dots) but otherwise, they use the piano-style.

[Scott5114]

Oklahoma (both the DOT and, recently, some local governments like Norman) has recently adopted the white-black style (as in the first WSDOT link) on concrete roads, after years and years of nothing but white. I like it; it makes the markings more obvious no matter what the lighting conditions are.

[Revive 755]

Considering all types of lane line and contrast lane line designs, which style, as a motorist do you think improves visibility on the roadway? Here in Arkansas, we use "edge contrasting" lane lines for light colored pavement. I have seen in states elsewhere that use a black-white or a black-white-black contrasting lane line. I have also seen in Texas a "border style" design. If I missed any (I'm sure I did, please fill in the blanks).

How about continuous black line with white skips?  One example from Schaumburg, IL

Another example from Schaumburg, IL


IIRC Missouri had a border design around St. Louis, possibly somewhere on I-44, for the skip dashes and both edgelines.

[sparker]

I have certainly seen a black line separating two yellows on state-maintained highways in some areas of CA; that practice appears to be district-dependent (as with many things Caltrans!).  It certainly would be helpful if they were to adopt the black/white alternative dashed-line striping in areas with concrete pavement and above-average (at least for CA) rainfall, such as I-5 in the Sacramento River canyon between Lake Shasta and Dunsmuir, as well as I-80 over Donner Summit.   

[Quillz]

I'd prefer something that can be seen on rainy nights under streetlights. Lines disappear when light hits a wet road surface after dark.

Did I encounter this hard when I was in Arcata earlier this year. Some of the local roads have lines that absolutely cannot be seen in the dark. I couldn't even see the center divider for a time, and these are roads that are fairly active at all times of day. Never been anywhere else in the state where I've come across lane markings so poor.

[TheArkansasRoadgeek]

Considering all types of lane line and contrast lane line designs, which style, as a motorist do you think improves visibility on the roadway? Here in Arkansas, we use "edge contrasting" lane lines for light colored pavement. I have seen in states elsewhere that use a black-white or a black-white-black contrasting lane line. I have also seen in Texas a "border style" design. If I missed any (I'm sure I did, please fill in the blanks).

How about continuous black line with white skips?  One example from Schaumburg, IL

Another example from Schaumburg, IL


IIRC Missouri had a border design around St. Louis, possibly somewhere on I-44, for the skip dashes and both edgelines.

That's cool!

Oklahoma (both the DOT and, recently, some local governments like Norman) has recently adopted the white-black style (as in the first WSDOT link) on concrete roads, after years and years of nothing but white. I like it; it makes the markings more obvious no matter what the lighting conditions are.

I have noticed that when I go to Oklahoma from time to time. Dosen't OKDOT use the edge contrasting lane lines from time to time.

Here is the edge contrasting lane line design: https://goo.gl/8FfweR (Arkansas calls it "contrasting edge lines").

[Brandon]

Considering all types of lane line and contrast lane line designs, which style, as a motorist do you think improves visibility on the roadway? Here in Arkansas, we use "edge contrasting" lane lines for light colored pavement. I have seen in states elsewhere that use a black-white or a black-white-black contrasting lane line. I have also seen in Texas a "border style" design. If I missed any (I'm sure I did, please fill in the blanks).

How about continuous black line with white skips?  One example from Schaumburg, IL

Another example from Schaumburg, IL


IIRC Missouri had a border design around St. Louis, possibly somewhere on I-44, for the skip dashes and both edgelines.

That's cool!

It's not uncommon, especially for county highways in northeast Illinois.

Other examples:
https://goo.gl/maps/g5BcNbMQ5bz
https://goo.gl/maps/i4UarHEtfrR2
https://goo.gl/maps/qgLHMhgKHi82

[TheArkansasRoadgeek]

I'd prefer something that can be seen on rainy nights under streetlights. Lines disappear when light hits a wet road surface after dark.

Did I encounter this hard when I was in Arcata earlier this year. Some of the local roads have lines that absolutely cannot be seen in the dark. I couldn't even see the center divider for a time, and these are roads that are fairly active at all times of day. Never been anywhere else in the state where I've come across lane markings so poor.

Are they faded?

[roadfro]

Nevada uses the contrasting edge lines with black on left/right edge of the white stripe ("piano style" someone called it previously). This style provides the cheapest way to do it as far as amount of paint. We've even had some thermoplastic markings (crosswalks, arrows, etc.) in the Reno area that use a black outline around the normal white marking, and I think those look pretty good on lighter PCC concrete pavements.

I've seen some of the other contrasting line styles online only. I think others may be a bit more visible, at the cost of more paint/material.

[RobbieL2415]

I prefer piano key striping on concrete highway surfaces, something my state doesn't do but NY does.
I prefer lane and outer line reflectors on all highway surfaces.  Again my state hasn't done this since the late 70s but bordering states (MA, RI) do.

[TheArkansasRoadgeek]

Nevada uses the contrasting edge lines with black on left/right edge of the white stripe ("piano style" someone called it previously). This style provides the cheapest way to do it as far as amount of paint. We've even had some thermoplastic markings (crosswalks, arrows, etc.) in the Reno area that use a black outline around the normal white marking, and I think those look pretty good on lighter PCC concrete pavements.

I've seen some of the other contrasting line styles online only. I think others may be a bit more visible, at the cost of more paint/material.

I prefer piano key striping on concrete highway surfaces, something my state doesn't do but NY does.
I prefer lane and outer line reflectors on all highway surfaces.  Again my state hasn't done this since the late 70s but bordering states (MA, RI) do.

I read somewhere (correlating with the MUTCD) that the contrasting edge line style is more common than I thought. It listed states such as Arkansas, Maine and others use the design rutinely. AHTD District 6 is an example of this. They use it more than District 4.

[Tom958]

While the I-85 viaduct in Atlanta was closed for repair, they redid the lines using two different schemes. Wow.

[jeffandnicole]

New Jersey never did contrasting lines.  Then they experimented with a few different styles, finally deciding on the tried and true method - White then Black.  They're not used everywhere, but they've become more common over the past decade or so.

Delaware, because they *must* be different, does black then white.  Kinda annoying because it simply looks out of order.

[jakeroot]

Delaware, because they *must* be different, does black then white.  Kinda annoying because it simply looks out of order.

Black-white *gap* is what I'm used to seeing here in Washington (on roads that still use that style -- piano style seems to be preferred now). Does the Northeast generally prefer the opposite?

[SignGeek101]

This style I find nice:

https://goo.gl/maps/eKDKC19RBzK2

[adventurernumber1]

I absolutely love contrast striping, and I think it does a great job serving its purpose. Even so, sometimes in the middle of the day, it can still be a little bit hard to see, which goes to show how powerful the glare of the sun can be at times.

I have seen many, many kinds of contrast striping, and I love each and every one of them. However, I personally am not technically informed on which kind does the most efficient job - but all of them are aesthetically pleasing to me. I know there are more kinds than this that I've seen before, but these are the main ones that are most prominent in my memory:

(NOTE: This is what I am calling them for myself, but I do not know, as of yet, what they are professionally called:)

Type 1 => White stripes with black edge stripes. Example: https://www.google.com/maps/@34.0743928,-84.6204762,3a,75y,144.95h,86.13t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1srbXoWz-u2sGh26h7hLeWCw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Type 2 => Long stripes that are part black and part white. V V V

     * NOTE: I've seen further variations of this type, where the black section has varying lengths - some have very short black sections, such as South Carolina uses (  https://www.google.com/maps/@33.2063593,-80.60033,3a,75y,10.76h,86.55t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1spxP8YOeCPIPSK_iJhJesRA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 ), and most examples have much longer black sections ( https://www.google.com/maps/@34.1244841,-85.9816919,3a,75y,343.31h,95.32t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sBOe-VEbnu10kR7tFl6_Efg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 )


Type 3 => White stripes with black stripes on both ends - I've seen this kind all over California. Example (though a tad hard to see in this one): https://www.google.com/maps/@34.0501419,-118.2630684,3a,75y,237.45h,86.75t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1syLsyqSEABowKZTcJgz55Pw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Type 4 => White stripes that are completely surrounded by black. Example: https://www.google.com/maps/@33.4950888,-88.8871153,3a,75y,89.03h,86.39t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sZxQ0V3N-ahpmX4y_fuBOkA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656


There are also possible unintentional hybrids, like when Type 1 contrast striping is seemingly striped over existing Type 2 contrast striping: https://www.google.com/maps/@30.3563975,-81.6602443,3a,75y,271.54h,80.11t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sepeGeIA22XlFpPvFhDfHVA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

I've also seen contrast striping painted on asphalt roads (though it is obviously usually concrete), most notably in Florida, where asphalt roads can become extremely light: https://www.google.com/maps/@28.8744244,-82.0950852,3a,75y,292.24h,88.27t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sq_FL-xFt3Kg9GhBXgfu2WA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

I've also seen contrast striping used with yellow striping, though it is usually obviously with white: https://www.google.com/maps/@33.0356221,-84.1392447,3a,75y,44.16h,87.91t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sUeodydGDYRWOE29XzGwIig!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

And, I've seen contrast striping used on both crosswalks ( https://www.google.com/maps/@34.8008733,-84.9819058,3a,75y,270.59h,82.23t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1swuec0F1AEjn2UE4qnEGUpQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 ) and arrows ( https://www.google.com/maps/@33.9660569,-83.3718368,3a,75y,65.67h,93.29t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sBG8Mfda53XYgRZQ_VtnvMQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 ).


I've seen most states use contrast striping of some sort, but one example that doesn't is TN (at least from my experience). I don't think I've ever seen Tennessee use contrast striping.

Also, I've seen states gradually switch to using another type more often. Both Florida and South Carolina have historically, in my experience, been heavily Type 2 states, but now both of them have been using Type 1 contrast striping significantly more, from what I can tell.

While the I-85 viaduct in Atlanta was closed for repair, they redid the lines using two different schemes. Wow.

I noticed that, too! It is quite interesting what they did when rebuilding the bridge on Interstate 85, because before that, it was 100% unheard of (in my experience) for Georgia to use anything other than Type 1 contrast striping, or no contrast striping at all. But now for the first time that I've seen, they have used another type, which is Type 2 contrast striping (according to my custom definitions). Very intriguing. 

[TheArkansasRoadgeek]

I absolutely love contrast striping, and I think it does a great job serving its purpose. Even so, sometimes in the middle of the day, it can still be a little bit hard to see, which goes to show how powerful the glare of the sun can be at times.

I have seen many, many kinds of contrast striping, and I love each and every one of them. However, I personally am not technically informed on which kind does the most efficient job - but all of them are aesthetically pleasing to me. I know there are more kinds than this that I've seen before, but these are the main ones that are most prominent in my memory:

(NOTE: This is what I am calling them for myself, but I do not know, as of yet, what they are professionally called:)

Type 1 => White stripes with black edge stripes. Example: https://www.google.com/maps/@34.0743928,-84.6204762,3a,75y,144.95h,86.13t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1srbXoWz-u2sGh26h7hLeWCw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Type 2 => Long stripes that are part black and part white. V V V

     * NOTE: I've seen further variations of this type, where the black section has varying lengths - some have very short black sections, such as South Carolina uses (  https://www.google.com/maps/@33.2063593,-80.60033,3a,75y,10.76h,86.55t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1spxP8YOeCPIPSK_iJhJesRA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 ), and most examples have much longer black sections ( https://www.google.com/maps/@34.1244841,-85.9816919,3a,75y,343.31h,95.32t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sBOe-VEbnu10kR7tFl6_Efg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 )


Type 3 => White stripes with black stripes on both ends - I've seen this kind all over California. Example (though a tad hard to see in this one): https://www.google.com/maps/@34.0501419,-118.2630684,3a,75y,237.45h,86.75t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1syLsyqSEABowKZTcJgz55Pw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Type 4 => White stripes that are completely surrounded by black. Example: https://www.google.com/maps/@33.4950888,-88.8871153,3a,75y,89.03h,86.39t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sZxQ0V3N-ahpmX4y_fuBOkA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656


There are also possible unintentional hybrids, like when Type 1 contrast striping is seemingly striped over existing Type 2 contrast striping: https://www.google.com/maps/@30.3563975,-81.6602443,3a,75y,271.54h,80.11t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sepeGeIA22XlFpPvFhDfHVA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

I've also seen contrast striping painted on asphalt roads (though it is obviously usually concrete), most notably in Florida, where asphalt roads can become extremely light: https://www.google.com/maps/@28.8744244,-82.0950852,3a,75y,292.24h,88.27t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sq_FL-xFt3Kg9GhBXgfu2WA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

I've also seen contrast striping used with yellow striping, though it is usually obviously with white: https://www.google.com/maps/@33.0356221,-84.1392447,3a,75y,44.16h,87.91t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sUeodydGDYRWOE29XzGwIig!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

And, I've seen contrast striping used on both crosswalks ( https://www.google.com/maps/@34.8008733,-84.9819058,3a,75y,270.59h,82.23t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1swuec0F1AEjn2UE4qnEGUpQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 ) and arrows ( https://www.google.com/maps/@33.9660569,-83.3718368,3a,75y,65.67h,93.29t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sBG8Mfda53XYgRZQ_VtnvMQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 ).


I've seen most states use contrast striping of some sort, but one example that doesn't is TN (at least from my experience). I don't think I've ever seen Tennessee use contrast striping.

Also, I've seen states gradually switch to using another type more often. Both Florida and South Carolina have historically, in my experience, been heavily Type 2 states, but now both of them have been using Type 1 contrast striping significantly more, from what I can tell.

While the I-85 viaduct in Atlanta was closed for repair, they redid the lines using two different schemes. Wow.

I noticed that, too! It is quite interesting what they did when rebuilding the bridge on Interstate 85, because before that, it was 100% unheard of (in my experience) for Georgia to use anything other than Type 1 contrast striping, or no contrast striping at all. But now for the first time that I've seen, they have used another type, which is Type 2 contrast striping (according to my custom definitions). Very intriguing. 

I will never understand why just one design is never enough for certain states, in regards to contrasting lane lines. I like Arkansas for that reason. We don't normally contrast our yellow and white (median and edge) lines, but you'll see it on some re-striped bridges using the same edge contrasting lane line design.

[jakeroot]

While the I-85 viaduct in Atlanta was closed for repair, they redid the lines using two different schemes. Wow.

https://i.imgur.com/laWLRmk.jpg?1

I noticed that, too! It is quite interesting what they did when rebuilding the bridge on Interstate 85, because before that, it was 100% unheard of (in my experience) for Georgia to use anything other than Type 1 contrast striping, or no contrast striping at all. But now for the first time that I've seen, they have used another type, which is Type 2 contrast striping (according to my custom definitions). Very intriguing. 

I will never understand why just one design is never enough for certain states, in regards to contrasting lane lines. I like Arkansas for that reason. We don't normally contrast our yellow and white (median and edge) lines, but you'll see it on some re-striped bridges using the same edge contrasting lane line design.

Type 1 between the HOV/express(?) lane and the number 1 lane would result in a solid white-black-white-black marking (no gap), which I would guess to be undesirable. The Schaumburg, IL example upthread is marked like this.