A fifth of drivers (21%) have reported that 'most road markings have faded away' in their local area, while a further seven-in-10 (71%) state 'some have', according to new RAC research.
The major poll of almost 1,700 drivers also highlighted the safety concerns attached to such poorly maintained lines - 16% of drivers said they had a near-miss as a result of vanished lines, and 13% had overshot a junction because they couldn't see solid stop lines or ‘give way' markings on the road.
An overwhelming 84% of drivers said they believed that road safety in their areas would be improved if road markings were repainted, while 91% wished their local authority 'did a better job ensuring painted road markings are clearly visible'.
Separate research carried out for the latest RAC Report on Motoring identified faded road markings and poor drainage as the joint second biggest safety dangers (38%), with roads themselves, second only to potholes (80%).
The recent poll also found 72% said the issue has become worse in the last five years, with a massive 92% stating it made driving more dangerous.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: 'Drivers are widely reporting that road markings have been left to fade into obscurity, making roads less safe as a result. While the Government has just published the country's first road safety strategy in more than a decade, this is one key area that shouldn't be forgotten. We urge them to work with councils to rectify this situation, as markings are painted onto the road for good reason: to keep drivers and other road users safe by clearly informing them of what they should and shouldn't be doing.
'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. 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 most frequently cited markings that had faded were the lines at the centre of carriageways separating lanes of traffic: half of drivers stated they found that these had faded away, while 48% said arrows on roundabouts or junctions had gone and 44% reported that ‘give way' markings had vanished.
Speed limit signs painted on the road (36%), bus or cycle lane markings (22%), zebra crossing stripes (24%), and cycle boxes/advanced stop lines at traffic lights (17%) were all reported as missing by varying percentages of drivers.
CEO of the Road Safety Markings Association, Rob Shearing, told Highways : ‘The RSMA welcomes any new research that highlights the vital importance of road safety line markings. The RSMA has recently conducted its own primary research through driven surveys to examine the conditions of line markings across the UK, with full results due to be released this quarter. We can say at this stage that the results are not too dissimilar to this feedback from drivers, gathered by the RAC. The key issue here is a lack of maintenance. This is hitting all aspects of our networks, including the basic integrity of the road itself, which has seen a rise in complaints about potholes. Sadly, safety essential markings are no different.
'The good news is that road markings are one of the best value for money investments a roads authority can make – providing a clear boost to safety with less spend than other interventions. We urge all roads authorities to implement effective asset management plans on all road markings and other road assets, and we encourage central government to provide authorities with the funding they need to do so.'
