Visibility at night on local roads

[Palliser]

I have been away for a few years. I seem to recall reading a post here about why the lines on the road are nearly impossible to see at night. When the roads are wet and it is dark and there are on coming cars, I can barely see the lines on the road. I grew up on the prairies and I dont remember the roads being like that there. Am i crazy or is there something different here?

[TreeGuy]

I noticed this last night on the stretch between the bridge and Kal Tire. This is the stretch they are talking about installing lighting.

[RVThereYet]

I have been away for a few years. I seem to recall reading a post here about why the lines on the road are nearly impossible to see at night. When the roads are wet and it is dark and there are on coming cars, I can barely see the lines on the road. I grew up on the prairies and I dont remember the roads being like that there. Am i crazy or is there something different here?

Paint for road lines used to be lead-based and lasted longer than about 1/2 a season... but lead is bad for the environment so they phased it out

[TreeGuy]

I have been away for a few years. I seem to recall reading a post here about why the lines on the road are nearly impossible to see at night. When the roads are wet and it is dark and there are on coming cars, I can barely see the lines on the road. I grew up on the prairies and I dont remember the roads being like that there. Am i crazy or is there something different here?

Paint for road lines used to be lead-based and lasted longer than about 1/2 a season... but lead is bad for the environment so they phased it out

Kind of ironic when you consider all of the toxic chemicals that come off of vehicles. And not to mention road tar.

[Bubalouie]

Bad enough you can't see the lines, then you get the jacked up truck behind you or coming towards you with the new headlights and makes it even worse.

[GordonH]

Chances are highway maintenance companies use the cheapest approved products available.

[kelbear25]

Agreed. I find it bad between the airport and sexsmith as well. Harder even to adapt the eyes when there is sections that are lit, and then darkness and lit again.
I also really wish all pedestrian crossing were reviewed for adequate lighting. Often its just relied on for the street lights, that can be half a block away and useless at helping to make pedestrians visible.

[RVThereYet]

Bad enough you can't see the lines, then you get the jacked up truck behind you or coming towards you with the new headlights and makes it even worse.

or worse, those fake "new lights" ... putting some cheap pretend HID light bulbs into a housing designed for halogen bulbs and the glare becomes dangerous to oncoming traffic.

[Even Steven]

I grew up on the prairies and I dont remember the roads being like that there. Am i crazy or is there something different here?

Yes. As people get old, their vision starts to go.

[dirtybiker]

Yes. As people get old, their vision starts to go.

What was that ya whipersnapper, I had a hard time
hearing what you wrote.

The weather plays a part, wet and no night sky equals less visability.

The Prairies are more prone to a clear night sky to help 'glow' the road.
Here, we are socked in.

[Ranger66]

“Chances are highway maintenance companies use the cheapest approved products available.”

Highway maintenance companies use the product that is specified by the authority that tendered the contract, in the case of highway 97 I believe it is a provincial resposability.

[GordonH]

Chances are highway maintenance companies use the cheapest approved products available.

Highway maintenance companies use the product that is specified by the authority that tendered the contract, in the case of highway 97 I believe it is a provincial resposability.

It's probably the cheapest approved by the Province.

[Brerrabbit18]

The roads as far as marking around Kelowna are the worst I have ever seen. Driving to work while it is still dark and the roads are wet, it is basically a guessing game as to which lane your in. I have seen at least a hundred close calls in the couple years I've been driving from Rutland to West Kelowna.

Ridiculous to say the least...

[Merry]

My hubby made the point that, if we're compromising safety in order to avoid using lead paint, what about all the pollution caused by all the spilled oil and gasoline that results when someone has an accident?

[cv23]

My hubby made the point that, if we're compromising safety in order to avoid using lead paint, what about all the pollution caused by all the spilled oil and gasoline that results when someone has an accident?

Consider this too....
The new bridge has scuppers ever hundred feet or so on each side with downspouts that empty directly into the lake. All fluids dropped by vehicles onto the bridge, including de-icing fluid which they pour onto the bridge by the tanker truck load in winter, goes straight into our lake.
At least the old bridge contained most of this within it's caissons, where it was pumped out and disposed of responsibly.