California Drivers Are Saying Goodbye to Botts' Dots

The greatest need for 'Botts dots' is along rural roads where traffic is light and there is no streetlighting. The argument that they are ruined by 'too much traffic' makes no sense in such cases. They are needed MOST where traffic is the least.

Countless numbers of times I've been thankful for Botts dots when driving at night in rural areas of Florida and Georgia. As someone who travels a lot, and also spends a lot of time in rural areas looking at the stars, driving at night on lonely roads is something I've done a lot.

I worry for my astronomy colleagues in California who will have to negotiate dangerous roads at night without Botts dots to help show the way home.

Around here we just figure if you can't keep your vehicle on a road in normal conditions without tactile feedback to remind you to stay in your lane you probably shouldn't be driving anyway.

In Wisconsin, I do like the Rumble Strips. ^{(link courtesy of State of Washington DOT)} If you do a period of driving, it does snap you out of nonthinking or intentive driving.

I think the NY state thruway was the first large scale application.

My state recently added a center line rumble strip on a dangerous, busy 2-lane road. Then they started taking it back out in stretches near dwellings, because of noise complaints.

Apparently, it wakes you up, even if you are not driving.

Where this concept really shines is at night with heavy rainfall. When I was in California back in the mid-to-late eighties, there were numerous occasions I was thankful for their presence in areas without supplemental lighting.

That reflective striping isn't all that reflective and often times can't hardly be seen, especially in the rain and fog. The reason they are only lasting six months is probably because the manufacturers are using cheaper materials to cut costs. The EPA has probably regulated the paint manufactures to the point that they can only produce inferior reflective white and yellow striping.

The reflective striping is usually quite worn. And at night, in the rain it's practically invincible.

I'm talking about new striping that dulls fast.

In wisconsin... I don't know if the yellow center and white shoulder lines are reflective... maybe newly applied they were. But they fade fast, eve. If the color is still there, at night, in a rain, there is so much light reflecting from the wet pavement, these lines are near invisible. At least to me they are.

In agricultural or construction areas, where equipment can track dirt onto paved roadways, the lines can become completely covered, even in broad day light...

At night, and/or in the rain, the ''lines'' can more easily become functionally invisible...

(Wake-up bumps) along the side of the roads can be helpfull, but are usually only installed on downhill curves. in small quantities...

(Flop-up reflective strips) are more affordable, but are unlikely to wake anybody up...

The only actually safe thing is to drive behind some body else, while maintaining more than enough stopping-sight-distance, and pull over, to let someone else lead-the-way...

California Drivers Are Saying Goodbye to Botts' Dots, --but saying hello to illegal alien drivers.

/For shame.

I've been in urban areas out of state where the use of reflective bumps and fresh reflective paint was such an immense sensory overload made simple exit's curves and intersections look like an intimidating Tron 2.0 environment filled with other drivers..

I remember a time in mid Florida where the roads were freshly done up with reflective everything, but the billion flashing construction lights on barrels​ that were in use at what seemed like inches away in multiple lanes made it a nerve racking drive. That and I had to dodge blue hair and Lincoln parts that was all over the road.

I also agree with using the rumble strips in the country. Even not tired and fully alert you're going to hear that wonderful sounds at some point.

The best use I've seen is on two lane highways​ where a mini rumble is punched in down the center line between strips. I've also seen this on multi lane highways. two rumble bumps about 6" wide?

Good stuff

Perhaps they should replace them with these:-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat%27s_eye_(road)

These things are very robust, reflective (with various colours) and you know when you run over them.

The concept of these alternative road markings, is very good. Especially in poor weather conditions and at night. As mentioned by others.

I'm not sure whether any statistics have been gather, on their effectiveness with regard to road safety. But my feeling, is that it should be very significant.