A stark new warning has been issued over the dangerous state of Britain's roads, with a vital safety feature rapidly fading from view. According to a major survey by the RAC, a significant number of drivers are now navigating streets where crucial painted lines have all but vanished.
Widespread Fading and Growing Danger
The motoring organisation's research delivers concerning figures. It found that one in five drivers believe most road markings in their local area have now faded away. The problem is not static; a clear majority of those surveyed, three in four, stated the issue has noticeably worsened over the last five years.
Perhaps most alarmingly, an overwhelming 92% of respondents are convinced that this deterioration is actively making roads more hazardous for everyone. The markings most frequently reported as missing are the critical lines running along the centre of carriageways, which separate lanes of traffic moving in opposite directions.
Near-Misses and Overshot Junctions
The consequences of these disappearing guidelines are being felt daily on tarmac across the country. The RAC's data suggests the situation is leading to direct safety incidents. The survey indicates that almost one in five drivers have experienced a near-miss accident as a direct result of faded markings.
Furthermore, more than one in ten admit to having overshot a junction because the stop line was no longer visible. These statistics paint a picture of a growing, tangible risk caused by inadequate road maintenance.
Calls for Urgent Government and Council Action
Simon Williams, the RAC's head of policy, did not mince his words in response to the findings. "Drivers are widely reporting that road markings have been left to fade into obscurity, making roads less safe as a result," he stated.
He emphasised that while all painted lines serve a crucial purpose, the disappearance of lane dividers and stop lines is particularly troubling. Mr Williams called on the Government to ensure this "key area" is addressed in its newly published road safety strategy, the first in over a decade.
"We urge them to work with councils to rectify this situation," he added. "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."
He concluded with a powerful warning about cost, arguing that while maintaining markings has a price, "the cost of letting them disappear doesn’t bear thinking about." The call is clear: investment in clear road markings is an investment in preventing accidents and saving lives.
