Types of street lines and parking lines and their use

Traffic markings are the most common signs and traffic control equipment. They play different roles and have different purposes, and are classified into three broad groups:

Longitudinal markings
Transverse markings
Markers and guide signs
< br>Longitudinal and transverse lines are used on the surfaces of the riders and using various materials. The most common of these materials are paint and thermoplastic materials. The reflective properties of the lines are also achieved by adding a thin layer of very fine and small glass beads to the paint so that they are visible at night. When these materials are mixed inside the paint before use, over time and as a result of the wear of the paint layers on them, a reflective state appears. Thermoplastic materials have self-reflective properties and there is no need for additives in them to see at night.

In areas where snowfall and snowfall are not an issue, paint or thermoplastic materials can be used along with reflectors that have reflective properties. These reflections increase the visibility of markings by drivers at night. These reflections are also visible in rainy weather and are not easily worn out. In areas where snowfall and snowfall are common phenomena, these reflections are damaged during snowfall. Markers and guide signs are small reflective objects that are installed in the desired location. Directional signs are installed on light stands on the side of the road to help drivers identify their position on the road in inclement weather where standard markings are not visible.

Colors and Patterns

Five colors are used in street line markings: yellow, white, red, blue, black. In general, these colors used in street lines are used as follows:

Yellow lines separate the traffic flow in opposite directions from each other.
White lines, transport routes and They separate lines with the same direction and are used in all horizontal lines. Blue indicates disabled parking spaces. Black lines are used on light asphalt in contrast to other lines. In order to emphasize the pattern of the lines, the space between the yellow and white lines is filled with black color to increase the recognition ability of the drivers.

The continuous line prohibits crossing. Two continuous parallel lines next to each other indicate a stricter prohibition and restriction. The intersection line shows that passing through that line is allowed. Dotted cross section lines indicate the extension of other lines and are usually used at intersections. The width of traffic guidance lines is usually between 4 and 6 inches and in wider lines that need more emphasis. Yes, the width of the lines should be twice the width of normal lines. Section lines usually consist of 10-foot line segments and 30-foot intervals. Similar dimensions with similar proportions can be used in necessary cases to control the speed of drivers and indicate the route. Dotted lines usually consist of 2-foot line segments and intervals of 4 feet or more. The MUTCD guidelines set a ratio of one to three for dotted lines as the maximum limit.

Longitudinal lines

Other street lines are longitudinal lines that are created parallel to the direction of movement. Most of the longitudinal markings are markings in the middle of roads, markings separating traffic lanes from each other, and markings indicating the edge of the pavement. Longitudinal lines provide guidance on how to place cars along the route and act as the most general and main direction markers. An example that can be given about the importance of these lines is the change of direction on roads that have been recently asphalted and do not have longitudinal lines. Without the help of longitudinal markings, drivers cannot distinguish the routes regularly and in fact may drive erratically and face many problems. Longitudinal lines provide the possibility of orderly and organized flow of cars and optimal use of the width of the rider. has and is used to separate traffic flows that are moving in different directions. In the MUTCD guidelines, the use of center lanes is not mandatory in all traffic facilities. The standard used is:
Middle markings should be on the surface of all urban arterial road pavements and collecting and dispersing roads that have a width of 20 feet or more or their average daily traffic volume (ADT). More than 6000 vehicles are operated per day. The middle line should also be implemented on all two-way streets and paved roads that have more than 3 traffic lanes or more.

Further recommendations indicate that the use of center lanes is recommended on major city streets and arteries that have an ADT of 4,000 or more. In suburban areas where ADT is more than 3000 vehicles per day, it is recommended to use middle lanes. Use of center lanes on roads that are less than 16 feet wide should be done with extreme caution. Because the traffic violation may increase from the movement paths. In 2-lane and 2-way roads in suburban areas, the middle lanes are usually responsible for guiding and arranging traffic flow. Two continuous yellow lines side by side show that crossing and violating these lines in both directions is prohibited. Cross and continuous lines that are located next to each other show that on the side where the cross line is, transverse crossing is free and on the other side crossing is prohibited. There are also other specialized uses of yellow street lines. has it. Figure 1-A shows the use of yellow cross-section double lines to indicate reversible lines in arterial passages. Appropriate signage or lane control lights determine the direction of movement in these lanes. Figure 1-b shows the street lines used for two-way left turns on arterial roads.