A new survey has exposed a dangerous and growing hazard on Britain's roads, with a 'frightening' number of motorists reporting near-misses caused by faded and illegible road markings. The research, commissioned by the RAC, highlights a critical failure in road maintenance that is putting drivers at risk daily.
Survey Reveals Scale of the Problem
The poll of 1,693 drivers found that one in six (16%) have been involved in a near-collision with another vehicle because they could not see vital road markings. Alarmingly, the vast majority of respondents believe the situation is getting worse, with 72% stating the problem of disappearing markings has deteriorated over the last five years.
These markings are not merely cosmetic; they include the lines that separate traffic lanes, directional arrows, stop lines at junctions, and speed limit signs painted directly onto the tarmac. Their gradual erosion is creating confusion and danger.
Consequences for Confused Motorists
The impact on everyday driving is severe and varied. According to the survey findings:
- 63% of drivers said faded lines have forced them to guess their lane position.
- 38% reported accidentally ending up in the wrong lane due to poor visibility.
- 13% admitted to overshooting a junction entirely because they could not see the turn indicators on the road surface.
This data paints a clear picture of a national infrastructure issue that is directly compromising road safety and causing stressful, potentially catastrophic driving situations.
RAC Calls for Urgent Government and Council Action
Simon Williams, the RAC's head of policy, did not mince his words in response to the findings. He described the statistics as "frightening" and criticised the logic of allowing such essential markings to wear away.
"While there’s clearly a cost to maintaining them, the cost of letting them disappear doesn’t bear thinking about," Williams stated. He pointed out that despite the government recently publishing its first road safety strategy in over a decade, this key area must not be overlooked.
The RAC has now issued a direct plea for intervention, urging the government to work with local councils to 'rectify this situation' urgently. The call to action underscores the need for coordinated investment and maintenance programmes to address this worsening problem before it leads to more serious incidents.
