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[odditude]

This is the first thing I thought of when I saw this thread topic

Does anyone know or understand the purpose of the horizontal lines on this exit ramp?

https://goo.gl/maps/jP2iH8FxyAcpvKkx8

If you look on the satellite view and measure between sets of transverse lines, you'll see that they get closer and closer together the further you go down the ramp. Because the brain defaults to assuming things like that (lane lines, expansion joints, etc) are evenly spaced, and the speed by which the lines pass will increase as you go down the ramp, it subconsciously makes a driver think they are going faster than they really are and induces them to slow down.

These are called "speed reduction markings", and are an allowable traffic control device per 2009 MUTCD Section 3B.22.

They are hardly intuitive as to their meaning.

As Scott said above, the idea of these markings is to subconsciously induce the driver to reduce his speed.  For that reason they don't need to be intuitive.  Being intuitive might just defeat its purpose.

there's also a set on the Capital Beltway inner loop (I-495 MD) WB exit 27 (I-95 NB) - and a look at satellite view clearly shows the gradual reduction in spacing, which I've never noticed while driving over it.

[HighwayStar]

This is the first thing I thought of when I saw this thread topic

Does anyone know or understand the purpose of the horizontal lines on this exit ramp?

https://goo.gl/maps/jP2iH8FxyAcpvKkx8

If you look on the satellite view and measure between sets of transverse lines, you'll see that they get closer and closer together the further you go down the ramp. Because the brain defaults to assuming things like that (lane lines, expansion joints, etc) are evenly spaced, and the speed by which the lines pass will increase as you go down the ramp, it subconsciously makes a driver think they are going faster than they really are and induces them to slow down.

These are called "speed reduction markings", and are an allowable traffic control device per 2009 MUTCD Section 3B.22.

They are hardly intuitive as to their meaning.

As Scott said above, the idea of these markings is to subconsciously induce the driver to reduce his speed.  For that reason they don't need to be intuitive.  Being intuitive might just defeat its purpose.

Nothing about those things is going to make me reduce my speed, I am going to look at the distance to the end of the ramp to decide that, or the bank of the curve, but not some bizarre marking on the road I have never seen. I might be confused by them, but driver confusion is not the goal.

[Occidental Tourist]

This is the first thing I thought of when I saw this thread topic

Does anyone know or understand the purpose of the horizontal lines on this exit ramp?

https://goo.gl/maps/jP2iH8FxyAcpvKkx8

If you look on the satellite view and measure between sets of transverse lines, you'll see that they get closer and closer together the further you go down the ramp. Because the brain defaults to assuming things like that (lane lines, expansion joints, etc) are evenly spaced, and the speed by which the lines pass will increase as you go down the ramp, it subconsciously makes a driver think they are going faster than they really are and induces them to slow down.

These are called "speed reduction markings", and are an allowable traffic control device per 2009 MUTCD Section 3B.22.

There’s a bunch being put down in Caltrans District 12.  Just this week saw these on the transition loop from the 57 Freeway north to the 91 Freeway west and the Lincoln Avenue exit off the 55 Freeway.

[ran4sh]

This is the first thing I thought of when I saw this thread topic

Does anyone know or understand the purpose of the horizontal lines on this exit ramp?

https://goo.gl/maps/jP2iH8FxyAcpvKkx8

If you look on the satellite view and measure between sets of transverse lines, you'll see that they get closer and closer together the further you go down the ramp. Because the brain defaults to assuming things like that (lane lines, expansion joints, etc) are evenly spaced, and the speed by which the lines pass will increase as you go down the ramp, it subconsciously makes a driver think they are going faster than they really are and induces them to slow down.

These are called "speed reduction markings", and are an allowable traffic control device per 2009 MUTCD Section 3B.22.

They are hardly intuitive as to their meaning.

As Scott said above, the idea of these markings is to subconsciously induce the driver to reduce his speed.  For that reason they don't need to be intuitive.  Being intuitive might just defeat its purpose.

Nothing about those things is going to make me reduce my speed, I am going to look at the distance to the end of the ramp to decide that, or the bank of the curve, but not some bizarre marking on the road I have never seen. I might be confused by them, but driver confusion is not the goal.

They're not used by themselves, they're used in addition to warning signage that indicates the speed for the curve or ramp.

[jakeroot]

Yield or stop?

https://goo.gl/maps/WuULNBcjfjt8ftW6A

Whichever one is more convenient for me, which in most cases, it's yield 

It literally has a stop bar which is solid white and does not have the triangles which can cause confusion to others imo.

There are a lot of intersections around me that use a solid stop bar when it's a yield (example 1, example 2, example 3). In pretty much every case, the line was implemented prior to the adoption of the sharks teeth yield line markings, which I don't believe were around prior to 2009. They could repaint them as sharks teeth, but that would require grinding up the prior line.

[tolbs17]

This marking over here is VERY odd I say. One lane coming from a merge ramp and it looks like two lanes.

https://goo.gl/maps/cNbKBUue6QgRbEju7

[tolbs17]

This can be odd too. A 3rd lane adds up and then an exit lane branches from that lane. Once the connection to US-52 opens, you will see A LOT of traffic using this exit ramp and it's kind of oddly marked tbh. Yes there is a future interchange planned to be constructed right next to it, but I feel like they could have done better. Except that there's a stream right north of the highway (US-421).

https://goo.gl/maps/12sAYkGPDujFwWYQA

[Dirt Roads]

This marking over here is VERY odd I say. One lane coming from a merge ramp and it looks like two lanes.

https://goo.gl/maps/cNbKBUue6QgRbEju7

It seems like more and more these days, I'm witnessing intense drivers that are switching lanes onto the onramp merge areas just to pass a string of traffic on the right.  This section of US-64 has never seemed very busy, but since it is now the primary route into Raleigh from the Northeast, it wouldn't surprise me that somebody trying to pass could get caught in the middle of the right lane and onramp (and still think that he has the right of way).

[MCRoads]

This marking over here is VERY odd I say. One lane coming from a merge ramp and it looks like two lanes.

https://goo.gl/maps/cNbKBUue6QgRbEju7

Arizona says Hi!

https://goo.gl/maps/aTdyDg631qeNtpRH8

[tolbs17]

This marking over here is VERY odd I say. One lane coming from a merge ramp and it looks like two lanes.

https://goo.gl/maps/cNbKBUue6QgRbEju7

Arizona says Hi!

https://goo.gl/maps/aTdyDg631qeNtpRH8

Yes but it's not as wide.

[roadfro]

This marking over here is VERY odd I say. One lane coming from a merge ramp and it looks like two lanes.

https://goo.gl/maps/cNbKBUue6QgRbEju7

Arizona says Hi!

https://goo.gl/maps/aTdyDg631qeNtpRH8

I've seen this in a few places. I'm really curious as to why some jurisdictions will convert the latter part of the gore lines from solid to dashes... I guess it's to indicate that drivers can merge earlier, but I would like to understand the rationale.