Traffic paint is a commonly used pavement marking material, especially on low-volume highways, county and city roadways. Paint is the most inexpensive of all pavement marking materials; however, it lacks the durability of the other traffic markings available.

Thermoplastic Pavement Markings

Thermoplastic pavement markings typically outlast paint by many times making it very cost-effective. The value it provides, coupled with its durability and retro-reflectivity, are among the reasons thermoplastic is such a popular traffic delineation solution.

Thermoplastic is a mixture of plasticizer and resins that serves to hold all of the other ingredients together. For application, it is heated to temperatures ranging from 400 to 440 degrees using specialized trucks and equipment, which results in a liquid state.  Glass beads are laid on the hot liquid to embed in the material before it hardens, to provide the reflectivity.

Preformed Tape Pavement Markings

Preformed tape is a heavy-grade material with an adhesive backing and reflective beads embedded in the plastic. While tape costs more on the front end, it doesn’t require sophisticated application equipment to install and requires no drying or curing times. This coupled with outstanding visibility tape provides at night and under wet weather circumstances make it a popular material for use on high volume roadways.

Raised Pavement Markers

 A raised pavement marker (RPM) is a safety device usually made with plastic or ceramic and come in a variety of shapes and colors. The RPM include a lens or sheeting that enhances their visibility by reflecting automotive headlights. RPMs provide increased visibility at night, especially during rain to provide wet weather visibility and are typically used in conjunction with other pavement markings.