Friday, April 3, 2020

BRIGHT WHITE LINES MAKE ROADS SAFER FOR EVERYONE - White lines have been synonymous with road safety for over a century, and it is no coincidence that the first white line road markings appeared around the same time as the first wave of mass-produced cars. Indeed, the idea of putting a white line down the centre of a road was first conceived by American Edward N Hines in 1911 – two years before Henry Ford established the world’s first moving car assembly line. Today, it is easy to take such a simple innovation for granted, but the enormous impact white lines have had on road safety – helping motorists around the world to maintain lane discipline, and avoid oncoming traffic and other potential hazards – cannot be overstated. The effectiveness of white line road markings owes much to chemistry, and specifically, to titanium dioxide (TiO2). White line markings can only serve a purpose if they can easily be seen by all road users, in all conditions. TiO2 plays a crucial role in ensuring this is the case. TiO2 is among the brightest white substances in the world, and the way it interacts with light means, even at night, or in poor weather conditions, white road markings display prominently in car headlights. This gives motorists the best possible chance of following the road safely.


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white car driving along road with white linesHow bright white lines make roads safer for everyone
The Titanium Dioxide Manufacturers Association (TDMA)




White lines enable road users to navigate safely and for traffic to be managed, but what goes into making them so effective?
White lines have been synonymous with road safety for over a century, and it is no coincidence that the first white line road markings appeared around the same time as the first wave of mass-produced cars.
Indeed, the idea of putting a white line down the centre of a road was first conceived by American Edward N Hines in 1911 – two years before Henry Ford established the world’s first moving car assembly line.
Today, it is easy to take such a simple innovation for granted, but the enormous impact white lines have had on road safety – helping motorists around the world to maintain lane discipline, and avoid oncoming traffic and other potential hazards – cannot be overstated.
The effectiveness of white line road markings owes much to chemistry, and specifically, to titanium dioxide (TiO2).
White line markings can only serve a purpose if they can easily be seen by all road users, in all conditions.
TiO2 plays a crucial role in ensuring this is the case.
TiO2 is among the brightest white substances in the world, and the way it interacts with light means, even at night, or in poor weather conditions, white road markings display prominently in car headlights.
This gives motorists the best possible chance of following the road safely.
How do white line road markings work?
White line road markings are made using thermoplastic resin, mixed with titanium dioxide pigment and glass beads.
The pigment provides a bright white, highly visible colour, and beads act as ‘retroreflectors’ – which means they reflect some light back to its source.
At night, the light from a car’s headlights will reflect from the markings back to the driver, helping them to see the road easily.
Can other pigments do the same job as titanium dioxide?
No other pigments can offer the same all-round quality in the same quantities.
While other substances, such as barium sulphate and kaolin, can replace certain amounts of TiO2 in formulations, they lack the opacity of TiO2 and can never replace the entire amount.
In addition, far higher dosages of barium sulphate are required to achieve a comparable result – making TiO2 a more cost effective solution – not to mention the fact that market supply of TiO2 far outstrips that of barium sulphate.
Consequently, TiO2 is the principal white pigment used in the world today – especially in this application.
Due to its high reflectivity and durability, it combines the highest degree of safety with the most efficient of resources.
Contributing to better road safety
Used in white markings, TiO2 helps to prevent traffic accidents by making it possible for drivers and cyclists to travel safely.
Without bright white road markings, more and improved street lighting could be required, with high economic cost.
Many countries have specific requirements to ensure that road markings are bright, visible and clear.
Within the EU, for example, road markings are required to meet minimum performance standards, based on their luminance, day-time visibility, night-time visibility, skid resistance and durability.
Such standards are perhaps part of the reason we are living in an age when road safety standards have never been better.
Since 2010, the number of fatalities recorded each year on EU roads has fallen by nearly a fifth, and the EU has a strategic target to halve the number of road deaths between 2010 and 2020.
While there is a huge range of factors that contribute to road safety – from improved safety features on vehicles to better driver education and awareness – titanium dioxide certainly has an important role to play.

The Titanium Dioxide Manufacturers Association (TDMA) represents the major producers of titanium dioxide (TiO2 ) and has been their voice in Europe since 1974.
Our members develop products and applications that are seen in almost every aspect of daily life. Across the globe, TiO2 is used in everything from paints, plastics and paper to make-up and sunscreen. Find out more about titanium dioxide.
The range of innovative uses for TiO2 keeps on increasing. In recent years, for example, it has been used in the manufacture of cheap and efficient solar cells and building facades that can neutralise air pollution.
The products and applications developed by our members are at the heart of this incredible innovation. The role of TDMA is to support our members by promoting and defending the merits of TiO2 in all suitable applications. We provide comprehensive, authoritative and trusted information about the safety and use of TiO2 .
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