Temporary center stripe pavement markings in newly resurfaced zones were selected to
study driver visibility as a function of the degree of pavement marking obliteration. The
Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) specifies 0.1-m-wide retroreflective
single dashed yellow stripes with a gap/stripe ratio of 10.98/1.22 m as minimum temporary
center stripes in resurfaced zones. The study also investigated the begin and end detection
distances of double-dashed (10.98/l. 22m) 0.05-m-wide yellow retroreflective center stripes …

Economic and environmental concerns have raised questions about the continued use of
yellow center lines on two-lane highways and yellow left-edge lines on divided highways or
freeway entrance and exit ramps. The use of yellow pavement markings as a warning to
indicate opposing traffic appears to be a concept that is compatible with certain human
factors population stereotypes and accepted industry standards (yellow for caution), but it is
unclear how well the general driver population understands the message conveyed by …