AARoads Forum

National Boards => General Highway Talk => Topic started by: tolbs17 on June 27, 2021, 10:55:20 PM

Title: Odd markings
Post by: tolbs17 on June 27, 2021, 10:55:20 PM
WTF is this...

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.4282074,-77.9943087,3a,75y,208.09h,82.23t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s1quy2WefydFneWH_QrWAgA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
Title: Re: Odd markings
Post by: DJ Particle on June 27, 2021, 11:22:30 PM
Quote from: tolbs17 on June 27, 2021, 10:55:20 PM
WTF is this...

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.4282074,-77.9943087,3a,75y,208.09h,82.23t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s1quy2WefydFneWH_QrWAgA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Sometimes on fresh concrete, black dashed lines will be used in addition to white dashed lines to increase visibility of the markings on theo near-white concrete.  For example, I-35W across the new Miss. River bridge in Minneapolis.

In this case, it looks like the bridge was originally slated to be striped for two lanes, the black lines were put down, then later they decided to stripe it for one lane (evidenced by the markings on either side of the bridge).
Title: Re: Odd markings
Post by: index on June 27, 2021, 11:55:07 PM
For the category of odd markings, I present this awkward temporary arrangement:

https://www.google.com/maps/@34.9942041,-78.3790617,3a,75y,256.28h,79.72t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1suMS35rJJfmcTwXB5k3QQvQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

This is even lazier than what they did with the OP's link. They just painted the leftmost line yellow to signify "yep, this is two lanes now".

What it actually looks like they did with the original post's link, is they didn't add black markings for contrast at all (sometimes NCDOT won't use them, I'm not sure what dictates when they do and they don't), but just painted the white ones over with black to say "nope, this isn't a lane anymore, no markings here". If you look closely you can see the white underneath them.
Title: Re: Odd markings
Post by: tolbs17 on June 28, 2021, 12:28:57 AM
Quote from: index on June 27, 2021, 11:55:07 PM
For the category of odd markings, I present this awkward temporary arrangement:

https://www.google.com/maps/@34.9942041,-78.3790617,3a,75y,256.28h,79.72t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1suMS35rJJfmcTwXB5k3QQvQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

This is even lazier than what they did with the OP's link. They just painted the leftmost line yellow to signify "yep, this is two lanes now".

What it actually looks like they did with the original post's link, is they didn't add black markings for contrast at all (sometimes NCDOT won't use them, I'm not sure what dictates when they do and they don't), but just painted the white ones over with black to say "nope, this isn't a lane anymore, no markings here". If you look closely you can see the white underneath them.
lmao
Title: Re: Odd markings
Post by: crispy93 on June 28, 2021, 11:36:11 AM
These super-thick lines coming off the Whitestone Bridge in Queens:
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.7963386,-73.8261676,3a,75y,154.92h,83.19t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1syzLw8RvkngctvMsV5Bvt7A!2e0!5s20180901T000000!7i16384!8i8192
Title: Re: Odd markings
Post by: kphoger on July 08, 2021, 03:51:07 PM
Quote from: tolbs17 on June 27, 2021, 10:55:20 PM
WTF is this...

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.4282074,-77.9943087,3a,75y,208.09h,82.23t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s1quy2WefydFneWH_QrWAgA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

The white dashed lines were removed when the right lane was removed.  All you had to do to figure that out is compare 2012 (https://goo.gl/maps/Mpj9TXbsDDRCBdEK8) to 2016 (https://goo.gl/maps/f2ZJngxgUSTEH57M7).
Title: Re: Odd markings
Post by: JoePCool14 on July 08, 2021, 03:59:27 PM
Quote from: crispy93 on June 28, 2021, 11:36:11 AM
These super-thick lines coming off the Whitestone Bridge in Queens:
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.7963386,-73.8261676,3a,75y,154.92h,83.19t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1syzLw8RvkngctvMsV5Bvt7A!2e0!5s20180901T000000!7i16384!8i8192

That is the definition of gratuitous. The width of three standard lines for that? Pointless.
Title: Re: Odd markings
Post by: roadfro on July 09, 2021, 11:33:38 AM
Quote from: kphoger on July 08, 2021, 03:51:07 PM
Quote from: tolbs17 on June 27, 2021, 10:55:20 PM
WTF is this...

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.4282074,-77.9943087,3a,75y,208.09h,82.23t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s1quy2WefydFneWH_QrWAgA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

The white dashed lines were removed when the right lane was removed.  All you had to do to figure that out is compare 2012 (https://goo.gl/maps/Mpj9TXbsDDRCBdEK8) to 2016 (https://goo.gl/maps/f2ZJngxgUSTEH57M7).
They should have either carried the cross hatching treatment over the bridge, or fully obliterated the existing lane markings. Black paint on a light gray surface wasn't the way to go...
Title: Re: Odd markings
Post by: tolbs17 on July 09, 2021, 04:38:18 PM
Quote from: roadfro on July 09, 2021, 11:33:38 AM
Quote from: kphoger on July 08, 2021, 03:51:07 PM
Quote from: tolbs17 on June 27, 2021, 10:55:20 PM
WTF is this...

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.4282074,-77.9943087,3a,75y,208.09h,82.23t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s1quy2WefydFneWH_QrWAgA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

The white dashed lines were removed when the right lane was removed.  All you had to do to figure that out is compare 2012 (https://goo.gl/maps/Mpj9TXbsDDRCBdEK8) to 2016 (https://goo.gl/maps/f2ZJngxgUSTEH57M7).
They should have either carried the cross hatching treatment over the bridge, or fully obliterated the existing lane markings. Black paint on a light gray surface wasn't the way to go...
Ikr...

Not sure why it was even narrowed down to one lane in the first place.
Title: Re: Odd markings
Post by: kphoger on July 09, 2021, 04:44:47 PM
Quote from: tolbs17 on July 09, 2021, 04:38:18 PM

Quote from: roadfro on July 09, 2021, 11:33:38 AM

Quote from: kphoger on July 08, 2021, 03:51:07 PM

Quote from: tolbs17 on June 27, 2021, 10:55:20 PM
WTF is this...

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.4282074,-77.9943087,3a,75y,208.09h,82.23t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s1quy2WefydFneWH_QrWAgA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

The white dashed lines were removed when the right lane was removed.  All you had to do to figure that out is compare 2012 (https://goo.gl/maps/Mpj9TXbsDDRCBdEK8) to 2016 (https://goo.gl/maps/f2ZJngxgUSTEH57M7).

They should have either carried the cross hatching treatment over the bridge, or fully obliterated the existing lane markings. Black paint on a light gray surface wasn't the way to go...

Ikr...

Not sure why it was even narrowed down to one lane in the first place.

Before the narrowing, the right lane wasn't exactly useful–added after the beginning of the ramp (https://goo.gl/maps/4L3yVUeuvdTi4byK9) and dropped before its end (https://goo.gl/maps/p6hPUZEnovUHJ2iy9).  Pointless, and a potential cause of merge accidents.
Title: Re: Odd markings
Post by: tolbs17 on July 09, 2021, 06:41:14 PM
Quote from: kphoger on July 09, 2021, 04:44:47 PM
Quote from: tolbs17 on July 09, 2021, 04:38:18 PM

Quote from: roadfro on July 09, 2021, 11:33:38 AM

Quote from: kphoger on July 08, 2021, 03:51:07 PM

Quote from: tolbs17 on June 27, 2021, 10:55:20 PM
WTF is this...

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.4282074,-77.9943087,3a,75y,208.09h,82.23t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s1quy2WefydFneWH_QrWAgA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

The white dashed lines were removed when the right lane was removed.  All you had to do to figure that out is compare 2012 (https://goo.gl/maps/Mpj9TXbsDDRCBdEK8) to 2016 (https://goo.gl/maps/f2ZJngxgUSTEH57M7).

They should have either carried the cross hatching treatment over the bridge, or fully obliterated the existing lane markings. Black paint on a light gray surface wasn't the way to go...

Ikr...

Not sure why it was even narrowed down to one lane in the first place.

Before the narrowing, the right lane wasn't exactly useful–added after the beginning of the ramp (https://goo.gl/maps/4L3yVUeuvdTi4byK9) and dropped before its end (https://goo.gl/maps/p6hPUZEnovUHJ2iy9).  Pointless, and a potential cause of merge accidents.
So, how were they thinking when they made that?
Title: Re: Odd markings
Post by: MCRoads on July 09, 2021, 07:03:51 PM
Here was this gem on Raton Pass last month. This image is not mirrored, or modified in any way.

(https://i.ibb.co/qkDSDWH/28-D35-CCF-9-B92-4-F75-91-ED-83-F29-D4929-A7.jpg)

Literally in Trinidad right now heading south, so I'll see if any other weirdness is there now.
Title: Re: Odd markings
Post by: CoreySamson on July 09, 2021, 08:19:09 PM
I posted this in another thread, but figured it belongs here as well:
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.0525405,-95.4632018,3a,28.4y,109.29h,81.99t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s9zdfSnSr7qgtv7BB83qedQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Gotta love it when the mall doesn't care about road standards. And also you've gotta love it when the white paint erodes off the road surface, revealing the old yellow paint underneath:
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.0454438,-95.4046527,3a,25y,75.33h,82.2t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sXm9ZWy6ncoQKvdV6yRexhg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
Title: Re: Odd markings
Post by: GaryV on July 10, 2021, 07:59:22 AM
Quote from: tolbs17 on July 09, 2021, 06:41:14 PM
Quote from: kphoger on July 09, 2021, 04:44:47 PM
Quote from: tolbs17 on July 09, 2021, 04:38:18 PM

Quote from: roadfro on July 09, 2021, 11:33:38 AM

Quote from: kphoger on July 08, 2021, 03:51:07 PM

Quote from: tolbs17 on June 27, 2021, 10:55:20 PM
WTF is this...

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.4282074,-77.9943087,3a,75y,208.09h,82.23t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s1quy2WefydFneWH_QrWAgA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

The white dashed lines were removed when the right lane was removed.  All you had to do to figure that out is compare 2012 (https://goo.gl/maps/Mpj9TXbsDDRCBdEK8) to 2016 (https://goo.gl/maps/f2ZJngxgUSTEH57M7).

They should have either carried the cross hatching treatment over the bridge, or fully obliterated the existing lane markings. Black paint on a light gray surface wasn't the way to go...

Ikr...

Not sure why it was even narrowed down to one lane in the first place.

Before the narrowing, the right lane wasn't exactly useful–added after the beginning of the ramp (https://goo.gl/maps/4L3yVUeuvdTi4byK9) and dropped before its end (https://goo.gl/maps/p6hPUZEnovUHJ2iy9).  Pointless, and a potential cause of merge accidents.
So, how were they thinking when they made that?
Probably that they had to build the bridge to projected usage for the life of the bridge.  40 years from now it might need 2 lands, so that's how it was built.

They had to do that to the 9 Mile Rd bridge over I-75 when it was replaced after a tanker burned underneath it.  So that's one bridge that doesn't need replacement as they widen I-75 to 4 lanes.
Title: Re: Odd markings
Post by: jeffandnicole on July 11, 2021, 12:20:41 AM
One well known overpass in my region built to serve 2 lanes but only having 1 is NJ 55 North approaching NJ 42 North. https://goo.gl/maps/NWg4iBHBvyHTxFBg9

In 1985, the overpass opened when NJ 55 opened.  NJ 55 had a short accel lane into NJ 42.  Then in 1999, NJ 42 was widened to 4 lanes, providing a thru lane for traffic coming in from NJ 55.

The reason why they just used 1 lane on the bridge is there was no real place to put a 5th lane on Rt. 42 to allow 2 thru lanes to continue.  The options would be to do what they did - merge NJ 55 down to 1 lane prior to the overpass (where visibility is good), merge NJ 55 down to 1 lane on or after the overpass, where traffic could find themselves hitting congestion on a curve, or merge 2 lanes down to 1 lane after NJ 55 merged into NJ 42.  This would probably alleviate some congestion on 55, but increase congestion on 42.

A long-delayed construction project will provide for a 5th lane on NJ 42 across 2 overpasses (before ending as an 'Exit Only' lane for 295 South), and this project will also allow the overpass to finally allow 2 lanes of traffic, as it was designed for when originally built 38 years prior.

BTW, depending on the GSV image you get above, you may see light traffic, congested traffic where the GSV vehicle is always behind a truck, or in one instance, the travel lane is closed, and traffic is using the hash-marked shoulder which will eventually become the 2nd lane.
Title: Re: Odd markings
Post by: tolbs17 on October 23, 2021, 08:34:31 PM
Quote from: tolbs17 on June 27, 2021, 10:55:20 PM
WTF is this...

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.4282074,-77.9943087,3a,75y,208.09h,82.23t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s1quy2WefydFneWH_QrWAgA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
Oh look!!! They are white in the August 2021 street view!!!  :) :) :) :) :)

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.4281427,-77.9943319,3a,75y,209.69h,81.85t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sGPuSgZSNBp1mjHSc0a5Otw!2e0!5s20210801T000000!7i16384!8i8192
Title: Re: Odd markings
Post by: tolbs17 on January 19, 2022, 09:49:02 PM
Yield or stop?

https://goo.gl/maps/WuULNBcjfjt8ftW6A
Title: Re: Odd markings
Post by: jeffandnicole on January 19, 2022, 10:17:59 PM
Yield or stop

https://maps.app.goo.gl/GKS49h6AMLdaMdyp8
Title: Re: Odd markings
Post by: SkyPesos on January 19, 2022, 10:52:48 PM
Quote from: tolbs17 on January 19, 2022, 09:49:02 PM
Yield or stop?

https://goo.gl/maps/WuULNBcjfjt8ftW6A
Whichever one is more convenient for me, which in most cases, it's yield  :D
Title: Re: Odd markings
Post by: tolbs17 on January 19, 2022, 10:56:44 PM
Quote from: SkyPesos on January 19, 2022, 10:52:48 PM
Quote from: tolbs17 on January 19, 2022, 09:49:02 PM
Yield or stop?

https://goo.gl/maps/WuULNBcjfjt8ftW6A
Whichever one is more convenient for me, which in most cases, it's yield  :D
It literally has a stop bar which is solid white and does not have the triangles which can cause confusion to others imo.
Title: Re: Odd markings
Post by: kendancy66 on January 19, 2022, 11:54:38 PM
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
Title: Re: Odd markings
Post by: Scott5114 on January 20, 2022, 03:38:00 AM
Quote from: kendancy66 on January 19, 2022, 11:54:38 PM
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.
Title: Re: Odd markings
Post by: roadfro on January 23, 2022, 05:48:01 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on January 20, 2022, 03:38:00 AM
Quote from: kendancy66 on January 19, 2022, 11:54:38 PM
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 (https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2009r1r2/part3/part3b.htm#section3B22).
Title: Re: Odd markings
Post by: HighwayStar on January 26, 2022, 01:18:49 PM
Quote from: roadfro on January 23, 2022, 05:48:01 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on January 20, 2022, 03:38:00 AM
Quote from: kendancy66 on January 19, 2022, 11:54:38 PM
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 (https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2009r1r2/part3/part3b.htm#section3B22).

They are hardly intuitive as to their meaning.
Title: Re: Odd markings
Post by: dlsterner on January 26, 2022, 03:51:44 PM
Quote from: HighwayStar on January 26, 2022, 01:18:49 PM
Quote from: roadfro on January 23, 2022, 05:48:01 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on January 20, 2022, 03:38:00 AM
Quote from: kendancy66 on January 19, 2022, 11:54:38 PM
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 (https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2009r1r2/part3/part3b.htm#section3B22).

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.
Title: Re: Odd markings
Post by: odditude on January 26, 2022, 10:09:55 PM
Quote from: dlsterner on January 26, 2022, 03:51:44 PM
Quote from: HighwayStar on January 26, 2022, 01:18:49 PM
Quote from: roadfro on January 23, 2022, 05:48:01 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on January 20, 2022, 03:38:00 AM
Quote from: kendancy66 on January 19, 2022, 11:54:38 PM
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 (https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2009r1r2/part3/part3b.htm#section3B22).

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 (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.0189488,-76.9577445,205m/data=!3m1!1e3) clearly shows the gradual reduction in spacing, which I've never noticed while driving over it.
Title: Re: Odd markings
Post by: HighwayStar on January 27, 2022, 10:26:46 AM
Quote from: dlsterner on January 26, 2022, 03:51:44 PM
Quote from: HighwayStar on January 26, 2022, 01:18:49 PM
Quote from: roadfro on January 23, 2022, 05:48:01 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on January 20, 2022, 03:38:00 AM
Quote from: kendancy66 on January 19, 2022, 11:54:38 PM
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 (https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2009r1r2/part3/part3b.htm#section3B22).

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.
Title: Re: Odd markings
Post by: Occidental Tourist on January 27, 2022, 09:57:43 PM
Quote from: roadfro on January 23, 2022, 05:48:01 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on January 20, 2022, 03:38:00 AM
Quote from: kendancy66 on January 19, 2022, 11:54:38 PM
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 (https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2009r1r2/part3/part3b.htm#section3B22).

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.
Title: Re: Odd markings
Post by: ran4sh on January 28, 2022, 07:53:50 PM
Quote from: HighwayStar on January 27, 2022, 10:26:46 AM
Quote from: dlsterner on January 26, 2022, 03:51:44 PM
Quote from: HighwayStar on January 26, 2022, 01:18:49 PM
Quote from: roadfro on January 23, 2022, 05:48:01 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on January 20, 2022, 03:38:00 AM
Quote from: kendancy66 on January 19, 2022, 11:54:38 PM
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 (https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2009r1r2/part3/part3b.htm#section3B22).

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.
Title: Re: Odd markings
Post by: jakeroot on January 28, 2022, 08:07:18 PM
Quote from: tolbs17 on January 19, 2022, 10:56:44 PM
Quote from: SkyPesos on January 19, 2022, 10:52:48 PM
Quote from: tolbs17 on January 19, 2022, 09:49:02 PM
Yield or stop?

https://goo.gl/maps/WuULNBcjfjt8ftW6A
Whichever one is more convenient for me, which in most cases, it's yield  :D
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 (https://goo.gl/maps/kEAmEhLG4hYffAUd9), example 2 (https://goo.gl/maps/sz1VgyaTvu4CHYre6), example 3 (https://goo.gl/maps/Kng3aHPE1zr5gqPJ6)). 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.
Title: Re: Odd markings
Post by: tolbs17 on February 05, 2022, 07:40:28 PM
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
Title: Re: Odd markings
Post by: tolbs17 on February 06, 2022, 09:10:41 PM
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
Title: Re: Odd markings
Post by: Dirt Roads on February 07, 2022, 11:14:31 AM
Quote from: tolbs17 on February 05, 2022, 07:40:28 PM
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).
Title: Re: Odd markings
Post by: MCRoads on February 07, 2022, 02:10:28 PM
Quote from: tolbs17 on February 05, 2022, 07:40:28 PM
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
Title: Re: Odd markings
Post by: tolbs17 on February 07, 2022, 03:11:05 PM
Quote from: MCRoads on February 07, 2022, 02:10:28 PM
Quote from: tolbs17 on February 05, 2022, 07:40:28 PM
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.
Title: Re: Odd markings
Post by: roadfro on February 10, 2022, 04:11:58 PM
Quote from: MCRoads on February 07, 2022, 02:10:28 PM
Quote from: tolbs17 on February 05, 2022, 07:40:28 PM
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.