A major new study has exposed a ‘frightening’ road safety crisis across the UK, with one in six motorists reporting they have narrowly avoided a crash because of faded or missing road markings.
Survey Reveals Scale of the Problem
The research, commissioned by the RAC and published on Tuesday 20 January 2026, found that 16 per cent of drivers have experienced a dangerous near-miss incident directly attributable to poorly maintained road lines. The motoring organisation’s head of policy, Simon Williams, described the findings as alarming and called for urgent intervention.
Furthermore, the poll indicates the situation is rapidly deteriorating. A significant majority of those surveyed – 72 per cent – believe the visibility and condition of road markings have worsened noticeably over the last five years.
How Faded Markings Endanger Drivers
The consequences of this widespread maintenance failure are severe and varied. The RAC’s data details several dangerous scenarios regularly faced by motorists:
- 63 per cent of drivers admit to having to guess their lane position because markings were invisible.
- 38 per cent have ended up in the wrong lane when approaching a junction or roundabout.
- 13 per cent have overshot a turning or junction completely due to a lack of clear guidance on the road surface.
These situations dramatically increase the risk of collisions, sudden manoeuvres, and confusion, particularly in poor weather or at night.
Calls for Government and Council Action
In response to the stark findings, the RAC has issued a direct plea to the government. Simon Williams emphasised the need for a coordinated national effort to tackle what he termed a significant road safety concern.
“These figures are nothing short of frightening,” Williams stated. “They highlight a basic failure in road maintenance that is putting lives at risk every day. We are urging the Government to work collaboratively with local councils to assess the scale of the problem and commit the necessary funding to rectify it.”
The call to action underscores the need for a renewed focus on the fundamentals of highway upkeep, with clear, visible road markings being a critical component for safe navigation and accident prevention.
