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Engineers question value of white lines

Central white line markings 'serve no safety purpose' on local roads, and there is evidence suggesting that removing them could reduce speeds, according to the draft Manual for Streets, which is being produced for the DfT (Surveyor, 22 June).

The publication appears to lend weight to Wiltshire County Council's decision to remove centre markings from 12 village roads where 30mph limits apply. It says that there is no Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (TSRGD) requirement to introduce centre lines, and 'little research to indicate there are any safety benefits on local roads'.

But John Smart, director of technical affairs at the Institution of Highways and Transportation, said: "There's no doubt that we could reduce the signing and lining on many residential roads. But this evidence doesn't seem to be conclusive. We need to remember that 40 years ago we didn't have very many lines or signs, but we had very many more accidents."

Andrew Whyatt, traffic and road safety group manager at Wiltshire, said that speed reductions 'and no increase in collisions' at the 12 sites provided the confidence needed to remove further markings. However, he added that 'statistically, the results aren't definitive'.

George Lee, of the Road Safety Markings Association, was 'very concerned' at the proposed document, which he claimed was based on a 'great deal of supposition'.

For the full story go to: http://www.surveyormagazine.com

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