Priya Kapoor
The solid white line on the right side of a road is called the 'fog line' and is used to help vehicles stay in their lane during low visibility conditions, such as fog, and to help pedestrians stay off the road. The idea for the fog line is credited to June McCarroll, a physician from Southern California, who is said to have hand-painted the first stripe in California in 1917. However, this claim is disputed by the Federal Highway Administration and the Michigan Department of Transportation, who believe that the first highway center line was painted in Michigan in 1911 or 1917. In 1935, the first Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) was published, which included national road-marking regulations.
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What You'll Learn
The first painted road lines
The history of road markings can be traced back to the early 20th century, when the automobile industry was rapidly expanding, and the number of vehicles on the roads was increasing. The concept of painting lines on roads to improve safety and navigation is generally attributed to a few pioneering individuals and states in the United States.
One of the earliest recorded instances of road markings in the US occurred in Wayne County, Michigan, in 1911. The idea is said to have originated with Edward Hines, the chairman of the Wayne County Board of Roads. According to a popular story, Hines was driving behind a leaky milk truck and noticed the white liquid dripping onto the road, inspiring him to suggest painting a centerline to guide two-way traffic.
In 1917, both Michigan and California took significant steps forward in road marking standardization. This year is often considered a pivotal moment in the history of road markings. The Michigan Department of Transportation recognizes the painting of the first highway centerline in 1917 on what was then M-15, now part of County Road 492. This was accomplished by Kenneth I. Sawyer of the Marquette County Road Commission. Additionally, in the fall of 1917, June McCarroll, a physician, had a near-collision in her Model T Ford on a highway near Indio, California. After this incident, she personally hand-painted the first known stripe in California on Indio Boulevard, which later became part of U.S. Route 99. June McCarroll is credited by the California Department of Transportation with the idea of delineating highways with painted lines to separate lanes. However, the Federal Highway Administration and the Michigan Department of Transportation dispute this claim, citing the earlier centerlines painted by Sawyer and Hines.
In 1917, California and Michigan passed legislation to standardize centerlines on all "main roads." This momentum for road striping and lane division spread across the country. By the 1950s, roadway edge lines, or fog lines, were being tested on the Merritt Parkway in Connecticut, as the need for improved safety measures on the roads continued to grow with the increasing number of vehicles.
The term "fog lines" refers to the solid white lines on the right side of the road, marking the edge of the legally driveable portion of the pavement. Their primary purpose is to assist drivers in staying within their lane during low-visibility conditions, such as fog, and to help pedestrians stay off the road. While the term "fog lines" may be more commonly used in certain states like California, they are known as "edge lines" to most traffic engineers.
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The purpose of fog lines
In some places, fog lines may be yellow, while in other locations, they may not exist at all. For example, in North Carolina during the 1960s, two-lane roads did not have fog lines, and when it rained, drivers had difficulty seeing the edge of the road, resulting in accidents. After the introduction of fog lines, traffic accidents in poor weather conditions in the area decreased significantly. This led to the widespread adoption of fog lines around the world.
Fog lights on vehicles also assist in navigating during low-visibility conditions, illuminating the road in front of the car. They help drivers see the fog lines and make it easier to spot the break in the shoulder where a side road begins. While fog lights are useful, they are not a replacement for proper road markings, as they do not provide sufficient retroreflectivity with reflectorized edge lines.
In certain jurisdictions, such as Michigan, crossing the fog line may be considered a traffic violation. This is because the fog line is considered a "traffic control device," and failing to obey it can result in legal consequences. However, there are permissible reasons for crossing the fog line, such as passing another vehicle or avoiding a collision.
Overall, fog lines play a crucial role in enhancing road safety and reducing accidents, especially during challenging weather conditions. They provide a visual guide for drivers to stay within their lane and navigate the road safely.
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How fog lines are applied
Fog lines are solid white lines on the right side of the road. They are also known as edge lines and mark the edge of the legally driveable portion of the pavement. Their primary purpose is to help drivers stay in their lane during poor visibility conditions, such as fog. Fog lights on cars are used to help drivers see the fog lines in the fog, illuminating the road in front of the car.
Fog lines are applied using road marking machines, which are also referred to as road marking equipment or pavement marking equipment. The most common type of road marking is a thermoplastic binder system, which is a homogeneous dry mix of binder resins, plasticizers, glass beads, pigments, and fillers. Thermoplastic markings are applied using specially designed vehicles. The thermoplastic mix is heated in trucks to about 200 °C (400 °F) before being fed to the application apparatus, which is often a screed box or ribbon gun.
After the thermoplastic has been applied, glass beads are laid onto the hot material so that they embed before the plastic hardens. These beads provide retroreflectivity, reflecting light from vehicles back into the driver's field of view. In some cases, epoxy is used instead of thermoplastic. Epoxy is heated and sprayed onto the road surface, and the glass beads are applied separately using a bead gun.
Preformed thermoplastic pavement markings are another option for applying road markings. These are cut into the final shapes by the manufacturers and are ready to be positioned onto an asphalt or concrete pavement surface. Preformed thermoplastics are put into place on the road surface and applied using a propane heat torch. These markings are very durable and cost-effective, lasting 3 to 6 years.
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The evolution of road markings
The first manual on uniform traffic control devices (MUTCD) was published in 1935, providing national road marking regulations. These included requirements for centre lines at hill crests, on sharp curves, and on pavements wider than 40 feet to improve safety and visibility. Over time, road markings evolved to communicate a variety of traffic directives, including passing zones, stops, crosswalks, and parking designations. The MUTCD continued to be updated, with notable revisions in 1962, 1978, and 1993, standardising centre line colours and introducing minimum retroreflectivity levels.
The process of applying road markings has also evolved. Initially, road markings were painted using line painters or pre-marking equipment. However, modern road markings are often made with thermoplastic strips, applied using specialised vehicles and pre-heating equipment. Glass beads are embedded in the wet thermoplastic mix to provide retroreflectivity, enhancing visibility for drivers, especially in low-light or inclement weather conditions.
While the specific terminology varies by region, fog lines, or edge lines, are solid white lines on the right side of the road. They mark the edge of the legally driveable portion of the pavement and assist drivers in staying within their lane during reduced visibility conditions, such as fog or rain. Fog lights on vehicles also aid in this regard, illuminating the road near the front of the car to help spot the fog lines. The combination of fog lines and fog lights has been credited with significantly reducing traffic accidents during inclement weather.
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International variations in road markings
Road markings are used to convey a range of information to drivers, including navigational, safety, and enforcement issues. They can delineate traffic lanes, inform motorists and pedestrians, or serve as noise generators when installed on the shoulder of a road. While the purpose of road markings may be universal, the style and type of markings vary across different countries.
Europe
Nearly all European countries operate a similar system of road signs, road markings, and traffic signals. Most are party to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals, which has established key tenets for road markings. For example, mandatory signs are circular with a blue or white background, with white signs having a red border. Prohibitive and restrictive signs will also be circular, but with a white, yellow, or blue background. Danger warning signs are either diamond or equilateral triangle-shaped, with a white or yellow background and a red or black border.
However, there are still some differences between European countries. For example, in Germany, solid lines are used on the shoulders of the road, while in France, a dotted line is used for the majority of the road. In the UK, a solid white line means no overtaking, while in the US, a yellow centre line serves the same purpose. In the UK, yellow lines indicate parking restrictions, but in the US, they are used for centre lines dividing opposing traffic. In the UK, pedestrian crossings are marked with black-and-white striped markings, but many European countries use white rectangular markings instead.
Asia
Asian countries closely follow Europe in terms of road sign design, influenced by the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals. Several countries, including Cambodia, Japan, Thailand, and Indonesia, have also been influenced by the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). Asian Highway Network signs are marked using white letters on a dark blue background. In Turkey and Russia, European route numbers are indicated using white characters on a green rectangle. Road signs in Hong Kong are derived from the British road sign system and are bilingual in English and Chinese.
Africa
Some member states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) use road signs based on the SADC Road Traffic Signs Manual, which was designed to harmonize traffic signs in these countries. However, not all member states have adopted the SADC-RTSM, and those that have may use regional variations. Member states of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa use a signage system based on France's. Road signs in Angola are modelled on Portuguese road signs, as it is a former Portuguese colony.
North America
In North America, the US and Canada have distinct road marking systems. In the US, yellow centre lines indicate that overtaking is prohibited, and broken yellow lines allow overtaking. In Arizona and other southern states, secondary "Yield" lines encourage motorists to move into the intersection while waiting for a break in oncoming traffic to make a turn. In Canada, yellow road lines and crosswalks are common on regular roads, with loading zones and handicap stalls in parking lots.
South America
Road signs in South America vary from country to country. Warning signs are typically diamond-shaped and yellow, resembling US signage conventions more than European or Asian conventions. "No parking" signs contain either an "E" or a "P," depending on the local word for "parking." Only four countries in South America—Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, and Venezuela—have signed the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals.
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Frequently asked questions
Fog lines, also known as edge lines, are solid white lines painted on the right side of the road to help drivers stay in their lane during low visibility conditions, such as fog. They also help pedestrians stay off the road.
The first records of lined roads in the U.S. are from Wayne County, Michigan in 1911. The idea is credited to Edward Hines, who proposed painting a centerline down the middle of roads to guide two-way traffic. In 1917, Michigan and California passed legislation to standardize centerlines on all main roads.
Fog lines are typically made with thermoplastic markings applied using specially designed vehicles. The thermoplastic mix is heated to about 200 °C (400 °F) and then fed into an application apparatus such as a screed box or ribbon gun. Glass beads are laid onto the hot material to provide retroreflectivity.
Yes, fog lines can be solid or dashed, and they can be single or double. For example, a single broken centre line indicates that passing is allowed in either direction, while a double solid centre line prohibits passing in both directions.
One interesting story is that of June McCarroll, a physician in Southern California in the early 20th century. After a near-collision in her Model T in 1917, she proposed the idea of painting a white centre line to separate lanes of traffic. She even hand-painted the first stripe herself in Indio, California.
