For several years, motorway companies have been tesing different methods of road markings using raised paint. These paint markings, we know, have great safety advantages, as they are clearly more visible in wet weather and also the raise effect when one crosses them is a good remedy for the effects of fatigue and drowsiness. Within the framework of a general study, ASSECAR (Safety Department of the Association of French Motorway Companies) wanted to find out what users' reactions were to the different types of road markings in place, and more particularly: the reaction to the noise and vibration experienced when vehicles touch the line; how the road markings are perceived visually in daylight compared with traditional paint markings and their visual effectiveness; and the contribution made by the noise effect of the lines to road safety. The company "CERC MARKETING" was selected to implement a "marketing" research method including comparative tests of the markings carried out by ordinary users, drivers of light vehicles and heavy goods vehicles. The test has the following principal characteristics: (A) it focuses on certain selected zones representing the raised lines being tested; (B) it is comparative in that it allows an assessment, not in the overall performance, but in the different performances between the selected zones; (C) it includes car and lorry drivers; and (D) it takes place in "real time", with an immediate collection of the drivers' reactions. Thirty six zones were selected, typical of different methods, some with separators/raised curbs, some with studs of different heights and spacing. The report will detail the conditions of the survey of 248 drivers of light vehicles and heavy goods vehicles and will show the results obtained and the principal conclusions to be drawn about the most effective measure for heavy goods vehicles and light vehicles. (A) The French title of this paper is: Evaluation de l'Efficacite des peintures a protuberances par tests comparatifs.
Abstract