2 Del. Admin. Code § 3B.20
Current through Register Vol. 28, No. 5, November 1, 2024
Section 3B.20 - Pavement Word, Symbol, and Arrow MarkingsSupport:
01 Word, symbol, and arrow markings on the pavement are used for the purpose of guiding, warning, or regulating traffic. These pavement markings can be helpful to road users in some locations by supplementing signs and providing additional emphasis for important regulatory, warning, or guidance messages, because the markings do not require diversion of the road user's attention from the roadway surface. Symbol messages are preferable to word messages. Examples of standard word and arrow pavement markings are shown in Figures 3B-23 and 3B-24. Option:
02 Word, symbol, and arrow markings, including those contained in the "Standard Highway Signs and Markings" book (see Section 1A.11), may be used as determined by engineering judgment to supplement signs and/or to provide additional emphasis for regulatory, warning, or guidance messages. Among the word, symbol, and arrow markings that may be used are the following: A. Regulatory: 3. RIGHT (LEFT) TURN ONLY5. Lane-use and wrong-way arrows6. Diamond symbol for HOV lanes7. Other preferential lane word markingsB. Warning: 10. Lane-reduction arrowsC. Guide: 1. Route numbers (route shield pavement marking symbols and/or words such as I-81, US 40, STATE 135, or ROUTE 10)2. Cardinal directions (NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, or WEST)4. Destination names or abbreviations thereof Standard:
03 Word, symbol, and arrow markings shall be white, except as otherwise provided in this Section.04 Pavement marking letters, numerals, symbols, and arrows shall be installed in accordance with the design details in the Pavement Markings chapter of the "Standard Highway Signs and Markings" book (see Section 1A.11). Guidance:
05 Letters and numerals should be 6 feet or more in height.06 Word and symbol markings should not exceed three lines of information.07 If a pavement marking word message consists of more than one line of information, it should read in the direction of travel. The first word of the message should be nearest to the road user. Click here to view Image
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09 The number of different word and symbol markings used should be minimized to provide effective guidance and avoid misunderstanding.10 Except for the SCHOOL word marking (see Section 7C.03), pavement word, symbol, and arrow markings should be no more than one lane in width.11 Pavement word, symbol, and arrow markings should be proportionally scaled to fit within the width of the facility upon which they are applied. Option:
12 On narrow, low-speed shared-use paths, the pavement words, symbols, and arrows may be smaller than suggested, but to the relative scale.13 Pavement markings simulating Interstate, U.S., State, and other official highway route shield signs (see Figure 2D-3) with appropriate route numbers, but elongated for proper proportioning when viewed as a marking, may be used to guide road users to their destinations (see Figure 3B-25). Guidance:
13A (DE Revision) Colored pavement markings displaying logos, emblems, symbols or patterns (other than those specifically permitted elsewhere in this Manual) should not be used, particularly in urban areas, or at/near intersections, so as to minimize diversion of attention from the roadway and other signs or pavement markings intended to convey regulatory, warning, or guidance information to motorists, consistent with Section 3A.01.13B (DE Revision) If used along state-maintained roadways, pavement markings simulating route shield signs should be as shown in options B or D of Figure 3B-25. DelDOT Traffic should be contacted for additional guidance regarding the installation of pavement markings simulating route shield signs along state-maintained roadways. Click here to view Image
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Standard:
14 Except at the ends of aisles in parking lots, the word STOP shall not be used on the pavement unless accompanied by a stop line (see Section 3B.16) and STOP sign (see Section 2B.05). At the ends of aisles in parking lots, the word STOP shall not be used on the pavement unless accompanied by a stop line.15 The word STOP shall not be placed on the pavement in advance of a stop line, unless every vehicle is required to stop at all times. Option:
16 (DE Revision) A YIELD AHEAD word pavement marking may be used on approaches to intersections where the approaching traffic will encounter a YIELD sign at the intersection. Standard:
17 (DE Revision) The YIELD AHEAD word pavement marking shall not be used unless a YIELD sign (see Section 2B.08) is in place at the intersection. Guidance:
18 The International Symbol of Accessibility parking space marking (see Figure 3B-22) should be placed in each parking space designated for use by persons with disabilities. Option:
19 A blue background with white border may supplement the wheelchair symbol as shown in Figure 3B-22. Support:
20 Lane-use arrow markings (see Figure 3B-24) are used to indicate the mandatory or permissible movements in certain lanes (see Figure 3B-27) and in two-way left-turn lanes (see Figure 3B-7). Guidance:
21 (DE Revision) Lane-use arrow markings (see Figures 3B-11 and 3B-24) should be used in lanes designated for the exclusive use of a turning movement, including turn bays, except where engineering judgment determines that physical conditions or other markings (such as a dotted extension of the lane line through the taper into the turn bay) clearly discourage unintentional use of a turn bay by through vehicles. Lane-use arrow markings should also be used in lanes from which movements are allowed that are contrary to the normal rules of the road (see Drawing B of Figure 3B-13). For exclusive turn lanes with a full-width turn lane length less than 200 feet, one arrow should be placed at the upstream end of the full-width turn lane. For turn lanes with a full-width turn lane length equal to or greater than 200 feet and less than or equal to 500 feet, one arrow should be placed at the upstream end of the full-width turn lane and one arrow should be placed 30 feet in advance of the stop line or the edge of the intersecting roadway. For turn lanes with a full-width turn lane length greater than 500 feet, one arrow should be placed at the upstream end of the full-width turn lane, one arrow should be placed 30 feet in advance of the stop line or the edge of the intersecting roadway, and one arrow should be placed at one-half the length of the full-width turn lane (see Drawings A, B, D, and E of Figure 3B-11). 21A (DE Revision) If used on approaches to signalized intersection, lane-use arrow markings should not be installed on top of loop detectors. Option:
22 (DE Revision) Paragraph deleted. Guidance:
23 Where opposing offset channelized left-turn lanes exist, lane-use arrow markings should be placed near the downstream terminus of the offset left-turn lanes to reduce wrong-way movements (see Figure 2B-17). Support:
24 An arrow at the downstream end of a turn lane can help to prevent wrong way movements. Standard:
25 (DE Revision) Where through lanes approaching an intersection or added lanes from an upstream intersection become mandatory turn lanes, lane-use arrow markings (see Drawings A, B, and C of Figure 3B-11 and Figure 3B-24) shall be used and shall be accompanied by standard signs. Click here to view Image
Guidance:
26 (DE Revision) Where through lanes approaching an intersection or added lanes from an upstream intersection become mandatory turn lanes, ONLY word markings (see Figure 3B-23) should be used in addition to the required lane-use arrow markings and signs (see Sections 2B.19 and 2B.20). These markings and signs should be placed well in advance of the turn and should be repeated as necessary to prevent entrapment and to help the road user select the appropriate lane in advance of reaching a queue of waiting vehicles (see Drawings A, B, and C of Figure 3B-11). Option:
27 On freeways or expressways where a through lane becomes a mandatory exit lane, lane-use arrow markings may be used on the approach to the exit in the dropped lane and in an adjacent optional through-or-exit lane if one exists. Guidance:
28 A two-way left-turn lane-use arrow pavement marking, with opposing arrows spaced as shown in Figure 3B-7, should be used at or just downstream from the beginning of a two-way left-turn lane. Option:
29 Additional two-way left-turn lane-use arrow markings may be used at other locations along a two-way left-turn lane where engineering judgment determines that such additional markings are needed to emphasize the proper use of the lane. Standard:
30 A single-direction lane-use arrow shall not be used in a lane bordered on both sides by yellow two-way left-turn lane longitudinal markings.31 Lane-use, lane-reduction, and wrong-way arrow markings shall be designed as shown in Figure 3B-24 and in the "Standard Highway Signs and Markings" book (see Section 1A.11). Option:
32 The ONLY word marking (see Figure 3B-23) may be used to supplement the lane-use arrow markings in lanes that are designated for the exclusive use of a single movement (see Figure 3B-27) or to supplement a preferential lane word or symbol marking (see Section 3D.01). Standard:
33 The ONLY word marking shall not be used in a lane that is shared by more than one movement. Guidance:
34 (DE Revision) Where a lane-reduction transition occurs on a roadway, the lane-reduction arrow markings shown in Drawing F in Figure 3B-24 should be used as shown in Figures 3B-14, 3B-14A, 3B-14B, and 3B-14C). Option:
35 Lane-reduction arrow markings may be used in long acceleration lanes based on engineering judgment. Guidance:
36 Where crossroad channelization or ramp geometrics do not make wrong-way movements difficult, the appropriate lane-use arrow should be placed in each lane of an exit ramp near the crossroad terminal where it will be clearly visible to a potential wrong-way road user (see Figure 2B-18). Option:
37 The wrong-way arrow markings shown in Drawing D in Figure 3B-24 may be placed near the downstream terminus of a ramp as shown in Figures 2B-18 and 2B-19, or at other locations where lane-use arrows are not appropriate, to indicate the correct direction of traffic flow and to discourage drivers from traveling in the wrong direction.2 Del. Admin. Code § 3B.20