Faded worn road markings and cats eyes.

[aveatry]

Has anyone else noticed the bad state of the road lane lines centre lines and other lane markings. In many places they are almost completely worn out. Also driving tonight on an unit 4 lane dual carriage way I noticed the cats eyes were dull or otherwise ineffective and along with the rain in the dark and worn away lane markings I could not see where the heck I was going at times.
The paint they are using must be crap compared to what they used to use, or is it another benefit of heavy EVs wearing them out or is it some EU directive about not being allowed to use a certain paint.
I know its not a paint as such because its a hot melt thing but I am sure that they must just use emulsion paint now to save money.

 

[securespark]

Heavy EVs!

Right!

Because they're so much heavier than a 44 ton artic!

 

[aveatry]

Heavy EVs!

Right!

Because they're so much heavier than a 44 ton artic!

I knew someone would come up with that, but there are (probably ) no more HGVs on the road than before the lines never worn off but there are a lot more heaver cars than before due to EVs. A bit like your forum avatar picture

 

[diy_fun_uk]

Funnily enough this crossed my mind only yesterday. Pulled up at a (busy) four way junction with traffic lights. I only knew where to stop because I know the junction pretty well. Lines virtually non existent.

 

[aveatry]

I am not saying it IS EVs - just spitballing but there definitely does seem to be a change from a few years ago - its relatively new resurfaced or re done roads. - If its not the paint then what is causing the markings to wear.
Its also an issue with the cats eyes - they are there but not reflecting then you come across 3 or 4 on the same stretch that are working perfectly well.

 

[Ihavenojob]

EVs don't weigh as much as some 4x4s, probably more 4x4s than EVs on the road. The main reason for worn road markings is lack of maintenance.

 

[motorbiking]

Maybe take a look at some upgraded headlights. If your car still runs halogens

 

[ajohn]

I vaguely remember some sort of change in cats eye construction maybe to achieve different colours. The old idea was simple. Glass which would be wiped clean when some one drove over them. Glass is hard and resistant to this sort of thing. Had a look around but found no details other than LED are likely to be coming. Might be able to see those from the moon.

Cash strapped councils might explain all even the paint.

 

[aveatry]

Had a look around but found no details other than LED are likely to be coming. Might be able to see those from the moon.

Interesting I wonder how they will be powered, perhaps all wired together with a solar a collector and battery pack every mile or so.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Had a look around but found no details other than LED are likely to be coming. Might be able to see those from the moon.

They've been in use for a decade. Solar charged, triggered on by light from headlights, they stay on for a few seconds.

Percy somebody, invented the cats eyes, made millions out of the simple idea.

 

[aveatry]

Maybe take a look at some upgraded headlights. If your car still runs halogens

My lights are fine. Travelling along the bit a few years old - worn lines - cats eyes not effective then on a section redone this year - like being on a runway-perfect.

 

[ajohn]

Interesting I wonder how they will be powered, perhaps all wired together with a solar a collector and battery pack every mile or so.

i suspect a solar cell on each.

Solar road stud - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Not any info really on any changes from the original cats eyes

Cat's eye (road) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[ellal]

or is it some EU directive about not being allowed to use a certain paint.

Nothing to do with EU directives as the UK can apparently now make it's own rules

Although less money in the economy due to brexit has an effect on what is available to be spent on road maintenance...

Doesn't seem to be so much of a problem in mainland Europe

 

[noseall]

Nothing to do with EU directives as the UK can apparently now make it's own rules

Ahh, that old bastion of freedom - sovereignty. There's a list somewhere detailing all the things we can do now that we couldn't do when we were shackled to the EU.

Except no one can find it.

 

[Mottie]

Percy somebody, invented the cats eyes, made millions out of the simple idea.

He came up with the idea when driving one night in the dark and a cat was walking towards him in the middle of the road. Most people know that but what is not known is that at the same time, the person coming from the other direction came up with the idea of the tea towel holder.