Monday, 27 August 2018
Austroads has published a report that documents a project to develop national performance specification/criteria for pavement markings.
Pavement markings are a key element of safe system infrastructure and are a significant road asset of interest to all road users.
Road agency linemarking practice varies and some do not comply with the Australian Standard.
Marking and material specifications also differ between jurisdictions, as does guidance on the replacement or remarking of markings.
The development of a harmonised performance-based specification for linemarkings has been on the agenda for the Austroads Road Authority Pavement Markings Group for several years.
This report documents a project to harmonise practice by developing a national performance specification/criteria for pavement markings.
The project investigated:
- longitudinal and transverse linemarking types and widths and other pavement markings used by different road agencies (States and Territories) with the aim of harmonising them as far as practical
- road agency pavement marking specifications in order to develop a national performance specification for pavement markings.
The project placed emphasis on the harmonisation of the widths and specifications of stop lines, give-way lines, turns, pedestrian cross walk lines, dividing lines for multi-lane roads, tram lines, pavement arrows, pavement letters, audio-tactile line markings and wide centreline treatments.
Road agencies agreed that there was a need to consider the requirements of automated vehicles which will need improved and consistent pavement marking.
Reports suggest that edge lines need to be 150 mm wide with a minimum retroreflectivity of 150 millicandela (mmcd/lux/m2; mcd). Intervention levels in Australian standards are already 150 mcd and some road agencies are already installing 150 mm wide edge lines.
Most road agencies have agreed that all pavement markings need to be machine readable and to adopt the standard, recognising that further work may be needed as automated vehicles' requirements become better understood and information from manufacturers is integrated.
Report link: Harmonisation of Pavement Markings and National Pavement Marking Specification