RAC urges drivers to help address the issue by reporting to their local council
Drivers have claimed these ‘disappearing’ marks have led to dangerous situations(Image: georgeclerk via Getty Images)
Recent studies have found that many motorists across the UK are experiencing driving fears due to an important element “disappearing” from roads. Some people have confessed to finding themselves in dangerous situations that could have been avoided if the issue had been addressed properly.
An investigation by the RAC discovered that painted road markings across the UK are “vanishing”. The findings led to a “pretty concerning” conclusion, as the majority of drivers claim that faded markings make the basic task of driving “more dangerous”.
In a video posted on Instagram, an RAC spokesperson asked: “Have you noticed it’s harder to see where you’re supposed to be on the road? We’re not just talking about cosmetic wear and tear, but the vital road markings that drivers rely on every single day, fading away. These include centre lines that separate oncoming traffic, arrows that guide us through roundabouts and stop lines that keep us safe at junctions.”
Research conducted by the RAC found that 92% of drivers believe these fading reminders on the road are “making driving more dangerous”. Some reported that important road markings in their local area had “completely disappeared”, forcing drivers to take chances that could be deadly in certain situations.
The fading of these clear signals and signs on the road has forced some drivers to “guess their lane” position. The report discovered that one in six motorists nearly collided with oncoming traffic due to unclear lane markings, reports the Mirror.
The spokesperson added: “Allowing these vital road markings to wear away puts drivers at unnecessary risk, and the dangers of them simply disappearing are simply too great to ignore. We’d like the Government to work closely with local councils to repaint the markings which are hardest to see.”
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “Whilst the Government has [recently] 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.”
How often should road markings in the UK be repainted?
Across the UK, road markings are generally repainted every few years, though this varies based on traffic volume, road type and overall public risk. High-traffic locations such as motorways and busy routes typically experience considerable wear and tear, requiring more frequent updates to paintwork.
Lower-traffic areas, like rural roads, can last for years without the same treatment. If you come across faded, worn, or missing road markings, report them to your local council’s highways department or National Highways, depending on the type of road, using their specific “report a road fault” tool online and specifying the location.
Even with vigilant road users reporting problems, the issue might not get fixed right away. Local authorities typically wait for a spell of dry weather to be guaranteed (or at least forecast) before carrying out these updates, ensuring new markings won’t be damaged by rainfall.
Typically, councils use thermoplastic, which dries and becomes road-ready within 15 minutes. Many councils depend on public reports of faded, dangerous markings to help prioritise which areas to address next.
