Interesting article on road markings in the London Review of Books

[roadtester]

I'm not sure whether road markings are Street Furniture or Transport and Driving but anyway, here's an interesting article on the subject from the London Review of Books:

https://www.lrb.co.uk/v40/n03/alice-spawls/on-the-road

[yen_powell]

Watching the liners is my favourite part of a road scheme especially when they are writing and walk backwards as they complete the letters or numbers. Figure 8s would have me falling over off balance afterwards.

One liner who worked for me has the worst handwriting when he is filling out his work sheet, yet can produce text over and over again on the road like it is stencilled.

I was allowed to have a go one day, couple of FIRE PATH markings on a housing estate road, 1.6m high letters, they are still there after 25 years. After I had finished the liner had to take a bolster and tidy up my edges where I had over shot in places.

[Bryn666]

It is a skill.

Unfortunately you do see too many examples of where someone lacking that skill has been given the pram...

[M19]

From what I have seen in most other countries, road markings seem to be stencilled or have ready made markings 'ironed' on than painted freehand.

There is definitely a difference in neatness, other places outside the UK being neater that is!