The quality of road markings on the UK’s roads is in rapid decline with the standard of markings on Scotland’s roads almost in free fall, according to Lifelines, the largest ever survey of 7250km of white lines carried out by the Road Safety Markings Association (RSMA).

The chief findings from the 7250km of roads measured are:

40% of markings on Scotland’s motorway and dual carriageways need immediate replacement

40% of markings on dual carriageways in Wales need immediate replacement

38% of markings on motorways and 36% on dual carriageways maintained by the Highways Agency in England need immediate or scheduled repairs

25% of markings on HA single carriageways need replacing now but only 19% are scheduled.

In Scotland 90% of the markings on the M90 between J1 and J12a have failed and 9% are failing, the survey said. On the A92 Dunfermline to Kirkcaldy and A8 and A720 Edinburgh West more than 80% of markings have failed.

The latest Road Safety Foundation report (TP magazine December) showed that road markings featured in nine out of the top 10 improved roads where fatal and serious collisions had dropped by 62%.

In England the survey found the section of motorway with the poorest quality lines is the M6 Wigan-Standish section where 66% need emergency replacement and nearly all (96%) should be scheduled for replacement based on the Highways Agency’s own standard, according to the report.

The best motorway markings were found on the M5 Tiverton to Tewkesbury where 80% had the highest rating.

The association said that 40% of markings on dual carriageways in Wales were invisible.

“Our report shows that national standards are not being enforced and that the quality of road markings is declining at an alarming rate,” said RSMA national director George Lee.

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