Domestically, Xiamen has launched a special campaign to rectify road markings, inspecting key locations, repairing worn markings, and using highly reflective materials to improve reflectivity and visibility, which is expected to improve intersection traffic efficiency. Jinan's Xinhua Road has begun a major overhaul project, using three layers of asphalt concrete to pave the motor vehicle lanes, widening sidewalks and adding accessible ramps, constructing new drainage pipes, and reserving interfaces for smart transportation systems. Internationally, California in the United States is piloting "smart road markings," which can monitor and adjust reflectivity in real time, reducing accident rates on rainy nights, extending service life, and reducing maintenance costs. The European Union has issued new regulations requiring the use of environmentally friendly paints containing recycled materials for newly constructed road markings. Experts point out that road safety management requires a closed-loop system, and that a combination of technological empowerment and institutional improvement is essential to maximizing safety benefits.
Domestic dynamics: Simultaneous promotion of marking rectification and engineering upgrading
1.Special rectification of road markings: Xiamen creates a model of "refined management and maintenance"
Since the second half of February, the highway department directly under Xiamen has carried out a carpet style inspection of key points such as elevated road sections and schools in its jurisdiction, repairing a total of 156 square meters of worn-out markings. For intersections with high traffic volume, high reflective hot melt materials are used to redraw the markings, increasing the reflection coefficient by 40% and extending the visible distance at night to 150 meters. The project leader stated, "The focus of this rectification is to address issues such as vehicle pressure and lane changing conflicts caused by blurred markings, and it is expected to increase intersection traffic efficiency by 15%
2.Major project upgrade: Jinan Xinhua Road launches "all factor renovation"
From March 1, the overhaul project of Xinhua Road (the Pearl River Road - Xishi Road) in Jinan City will be implemented for 10 months. The project uses three-layer SMA-13 asphalt concrete to re pave the motor vehicle lane, solving hidden dangers such as road surface breakage and manhole cover settlement; Widen the sidewalk to 3 meters and add accessible ramps; Synchronize the construction of drainage pipelines to solve the problem of water accumulation during the rainy season. The project also reserves intelligent transportation interfaces, laying the foundation for the deployment of future vehicle road collaboration systems.
International Focus: Dual Wheel Drive of Technological Innovation and Safety Regulations
1.California launches pilot program for "smart marking"
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) announced the deployment of dynamic thermal fusion markings on Interstate 60, which monitor road surface temperature and humidity in real-time through built-in sensors and automatically adjust reflective intensity. The pilot road section data shows that the accident rate on rainy nights has decreased by 27%. The project leader said, "This technology can extend the service life of the marking line to 5 years and reduce maintenance costs by 30%.
2.The European Union releases the 'Sustainability Standards for Road Markings'
On February 28th, the European Commission passed new regulations requiring member states to use environmentally friendly coatings containing 30% recycled materials for all newly built road markings starting from 2027, and the reflective lifespan must not be less than 3 years. Tests conducted by the German Federal Highway Research Institute have shown that the new water-based marking coating reduces VOC emissions by 85% and shortens drying time to 10 minutes.
Expert opinion: Both technological empowerment and institutional improvement are equally important
Professor Li Min from the School of Transportation Engineering at Tongji University pointed out that "the current road safety governance needs to establish a closed-loop system of 'prevention disposal traceability'. For example, the marking rectification in Xiamen solves the 'visible' problem through material upgrading, while the engineering renovation in Jinan solves the 'stable' problem through structural optimization. Only by combining the two can we achieve the maximization of safety benefits.