A new survey has revealed a startling increase in the number of near-miss incidents on UK roads, with one in six drivers reporting experiencing a close call due to faded road markings. The RAC, which commissioned the poll, has described the findings as “frightening” and is urging the government to work with local councils to address the issue.
The survey, which questioned 1,693 drivers, found that 72% of respondents believe the problem of disappearing road markings has deteriorated over the past five years. The consequences for motorists are concerning, with 63% saying faded markings have forced them to guess their lane position, and 38% admitting to ending up in the wrong lane.
Furthermore, 13% of drivers confessed to overshooting junctions because they could not see the necessary indicators on the road. Road markings play a vital role in separating traffic lanes, providing directional arrows, stop lines at junctions, and indicating speed limits, yet they appear to be deteriorating at an alarming rate.
RAC head of policy, Simon Williams, expressed the organisation’s concerns, stating: “It’s frightening to think almost one in five drivers have had a near-miss as a result of faded road markings and more than one in 10 have overshot a junction.” He added, “Leaving these most vital markings to just wear away makes no sense whatsoever. While there’s clearly a cost to maintaining them, the cost of letting them disappear doesn’t bear thinking about.”
The government has recently published the country’s first road safety strategy in more than a decade, but Williams believes this issue should not be overlooked. “We urge them to work with councils to rectify this situation,” he said.
With the increasing number of near-miss incidents and the potential for more serious accidents, it is clear that the deterioration of road markings is a pressing concern that requires immediate attention from both the government and local authorities. Ensuring the visibility and maintenance of these essential road features should be a top priority to enhance safety for all road users.
