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                        Safety
                        Other Safety Areas
                        Lighting and Nighttime Visibility


            
            In This Section
        Other Safety Areas
                Road Diets
                Lighting and Visibility
                                Overview
                Sign Retroreflectivity
                Pavement Markings
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   Program Contact
      Paul LaFleur
      
                    
            Roadway Departure Program Manager
      
                    
            FHWA Office of Safety
      
                
    **Email:**paul.lafleur@dot.gov**Phone:** 515-233-7308
    If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
                
                Pavement Markings
    

    
    
          Overview

Adequately maintained retroreflective pavement markings improve nighttime highway visibility and reduce the risk of crashes by bouncing light from vehicle headlights off of the traffic control device and back toward the vehicle and the driver's eyes. This makes markings appear brighter and easier to see and read at night. Because the retroreflective properties of pavement markings deteriorate relatively quickly, highway agencies need to actively manage their maintenance , remarking as needed in order to ensure that they remain clearly visible at night..

Use the links below to obtain pertinent information related to pavement markings. The subject areas are grouped as follows:

Regulations / Standards
	Implementation Tools and Resources (webinar recordings, FAQ, etc.)
	Research
              
      
    
          Last updated: Wednesday, January 24, 2024 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

**Federal Highway Administration**

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