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TRAFFIC SAFETY – YOUR SAFETY IS OUR PRIORITY!
DO YOU KNOW YOUR ROAD MARKINGS?
Major Cities and well as small municipalities have been updating their roads so that motor vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians can share them safely. Separate bike lanes marked with green paint and a bike symbol are easy to read and understand. Crosswalks have been enhanced with wider marks to show boundaries painted in white. Road safety zones are yellow striped restricted areas that should not be entered or crossed by any vehicle. The most basic form of motorist information is the variety of pavement markings on streets and highways. These stripes, shapes and symbols denote the rules of the road by giving lane boundaries, guides for turning, crosswalk locations, and warnings of potential hazards. Pavement markings work in conjunction with road signs and traffic signals to give motorists a clear picture of the highway's characteristics. Because pavement markings are directly in the driver's view of the road, they offer an effective means of communication.
Pavement markings are used to convey messages to roadway users. They indicate which part of the road to use, provide information about conditions ahead, and indicate where passing is allowed. Yellow lines separate traffic flowing in opposite directions. Drivers should stay to the right of yellow lines. A solid yellow line indicates that passing is prohibited. A dashed yellow line indicates that passing is allowed if it’s on your side. White lines separate lanes for which travel is in the same direction. A double white line indicates that lane changes are prohibited. A single white line indicates that lane changes are discouraged. A dashed white line indicates that lane changes are allowed.
Pavement markings are also used to alert users to potentially hazardous conditions ahead. A letter X with a letter R on each side indicates a highway-rail grade crossing ahead. When drivers, pedestrians or bicyclists do not yield the right of way when appropriate, traffic crashes occur and pedestrians and bike rides are injured or killed. Driver behavior, due to distractions and not knowing what the road markings indicate are one of the major causes of crashes. Not knowing who has “the right of way” causes confusion that leads to road rage incidents. FDOT uses several media
forms to get educational messages out to the public to make roadways safe.
Symbols provide instant communication with roadway users, overcome language barriers, and are a standard for traffic control devices throughout the world. Familiarity with symbols on traffic signs is important for every road user in order to maintain safety and efficiency. For more information please visit: www.AlertTodayFlorida.com or www.diversed.com.
South Florida is a great place to enjoy the “perks” of great living with the accommodations of our beautiful beaches, peaceful parks, great restaurants and vibrant nightlife. It is also a location where many motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians mix together to commute to these places and others through our City and residential streets. Knowing this, your Wilton Manors Police Department understands how important traffic safety is to you when it comes to ensuring we make our roadways, crosswalks and bicycle lanes as safe as possible. In conjunction with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, our agency employs traffic education and enforcement efforts in our community that relate to impaired, aggressive and distracted driving, bicycle, pedestrian and child safety, mandatory seat belt usage and other areas to ensure we adequately educate the public on the rules of the road, and also enforce violations when needed.