Vital road markings on Britain’s highways and local streets are rapidly disappearing.

It is leaving drivers confused and raising serious safety concerns, according to new research published today by the RAC.

While the focus has understandably been on the deteriorating state of the road surface as it disappears into potholes, it is becoming increasingly difficult to see where the road regulations begin and end, or even where the edges are.  

Fade away

The motoring organisation’s survey reveals widespread deterioration in painted road markings, with many drivers reporting dangerous consequences and calling for urgent action from councils and government.

The research, conducted with nearly 1,700 drivers in late 2025, found that one in five motorists (21%) say “most” of the road markings in their local area have faded away, while another 71% say “some” markings have vanished altogether.

A striking 72% believe the problem has worsened over the last five years, and an overwhelming 92% feel that faded road markings have made driving more dangerous.

Edge of danger

Among the most commonly cited disappearances are the lines that separate lanes of traffic.

Half of respondents (50%) reported that centre carriageway lines — including solid single, double, and broken white lines — have faded significantly.

Other necessary markings that drivers say are disappearing include:

  • Directional arrows on roundabouts and at junctions (48%)

  • ‘Give way’ markings (44%)

  • Yellow box junction markings (43%)

  • Stop lines at junctions (41%)

  • Speed limit signs painted on the road surface (36%)

  • Hatched areas, cycle lane markings, and zebra crossing stripes are also reported as fading

These painted cues are critical to helping drivers navigate complex intersections, maintain correct lane discipline, and judge appropriate stopping points, especially in poor weather or low-light conditions.

Seeing the road ahead

The disappearance of these visual guides is not just a matter of frustration; it has real and sometimes frightening consequences for drivers.

According to the survey:

  • 63% of drivers say faded markings have forced them to guess where lanes begin and end, increasing the risk of errors.

  • 38% have ended up in the wrong lane because they couldn’t see lane lines, leading to confusion and potentially hazardous manoeuvres.

  • Nearly one in five (19%) report being beeped at or confronted by other road users due to unclear road layout, while the same proportion say they’ve had to make abrupt lane changes at short notice.

  • 16% have experienced a near-miss collision attributed to worn-away markings, and 13% say they overshot a junction because crucial stop or yield lines were not visible.

These figures underline how faded road markings can pose real-world safety risks, including last-minute lane changes, missed junctions, and near crashes.

Time for a makeover

The survey showed a broad consensus among drivers that things need to improve for everyone’s safety.

84% believe that repainting road markings in their areas would improve road safety, and 91% wish their local authority would do a better job of ensuring painted road markings are clearly visible.

RAC Head of Policy Simon Williams described the situation as deeply troubling, with drivers increasingly reporting that markings have been “left to fade into obscurity,” thereby making roads less safe.

Williams highlighted that even the most critical lines, such as those dividing lanes and indicating stopping points, are disappearing, and warned that the cost of letting these visual safety aids wear away “doesn’t bear thinking about.”

“While the Government has just published the country’s first road safety strategy in more than a decade, this is one key area that shouldn’t be forgotten.”

He added: “It’s frightening to think almost one in five drivers have had a near miss as a result of faded road markings, and more than one in 10 have overshot a junction.

“Leaving these most vital markings to just wear away makes no sense whatsoever.

“While there’s clearly a cost to maintaining them, the cost of letting them disappear doesn’t bear thinking about.”

While the government has just published its first road safety strategy in more than a decade, Williams stressed that faded road markings must not be overlooked as part of broader safety improvements, urging the government to work with local councils to tackle the problem.

Road safety concerns rise

The issue of fading road markings ties into broader concerns about road maintenance across the UK.

Separate RAC research for its annual Report on Motoring has identified faded markings and poor drainage as joint second-biggest safety dangers on UK roads, after potholes, which were cited by 80% of drivers as a significant issue.

As local authorities face tight budgets and mounting maintenance backlogs, many drivers feel that routine upkeep, such as repainting lines or ensuring road signs are clear of foliage, is being all but cancelled.

With call-to-action pressure building, road users and safety campaigners are likely to push for clearer standards and more vigorous enforcement of road marking maintenance nationwide.

For now, the RAC’s research highlights a significant and growing driver safety issue that demands urgent attention.