UK Motorways.

[G.T]

Most Motorways that I've seen are made out of the usual grey tarmac, but sometimes the road is made out of a yellowy-brown substance which is awful to drive over. Then, the road sometimes turns grey, then yellowy-brown, grey, yellowy-brown again and again. Why was the road made like this? I see no point on doing it.

 

[amp88]

The yellowy-brown sections are, I believe, just high friction (high grip) segments which are placed on dangerous corners or in areas where drivers might have to perform sudden stops (such as tight corners on motorways or outside schools).

Sometimes, on the approaches to roundabout or exits of motorways, there are small bumps (usually made of the same stuff they paint the lines on the road with) which are there to make the driver aware of their speed and attempt to slow them down. They usually start off space quite far apart but get closer as you approach the roundabout (or exit) to effectively force the driver to slow down.

I think this is what you were talking about anyway...

 

[G.T]

The yellowy-brown sections are, I believe, just high friction (high grip) segments which are placed on dangerous corners or in areas where drivers might have to perform sudden stops (such as tight corners on motorways or outside schools).

Sometimes, on the approaches to roundabout or exits of motorways, there are small bumps (usually made of the same stuff they paint the lines on the road with) which are there to make the driver aware of their speed and attempt to slow them down. They usually start off space quite far apart but get closer as you approach the roundabout (or exit) to effectively force the driver to slow down.

I think this is what you were talking about anyway...

Yeah, the top paragraph sounds like what I'm on about. They were on the M25 (I think) too so I suppose it would help stop cars more quickly if there were an accident.

 

[ExigeEvan]

I've heard that the paint for bus stops (in the road ones) is high friction aswell.

There is a road heading up the Neath valley that is all made of a yellowy concrete, though I think it is more aesthetic than practical.

 

[Young_Warrior]

Yeah you guys know that our roads in the UK are ultra gangsta safe.

Anyhoo on a serious note I havent seen any of that extra coarse yellow stuff in any countries outside the UK.

Alot of pavements are high friction aswell for cars. I have first hand experience on that.

 

[TsLeng]

Over here, the rough yellowy stuff on highways are concrete as they are virtually maintanenance free(but expensive initial cost).

Downside is a noisier ride for cars and digging is very difficult cause its hard.

So far concrete is only uses in highways here unlike in Hong Kong where I've seen concrete roads in town.

 

[Seanman]

In the U.S., there's only bumps on the side of the highways so if you fall asleep, hopefully the jolting will wake you up and stop you from driving off the road.

 

[niky]

We only have the regular concrete... and miles and miles of cheap, thinly laid asphalt. One good day of rain, and half of it's washed away.

 

[TsLeng]

Yeah, lousy asphalt(or wrong laying technique) will be destroyed by water(rain)

 

[GilesGuthrie]

The yellowy-brown sections are, I believe, just high friction (high grip) segments which are placed on dangerous corners or in areas where drivers might have to perform sudden stops (such as tight corners on motorways or outside schools).

[snip]

I think this is what you were talking about anyway...

No, I don't think this is what the G.T. is on about. These sections of motorway just seem to be part of the main carriageway. They are, as TsLeng says, bits of concrete. They're horrible to drive on, and not particularly grippy, especially in the wet.

The stuff you're talking about amp88 is the "shell-grip" tarmac that is very high friction. It is, as you say, on junctions and dangerous corners, not randomly placed in motorway carriageways.

 

[Sniffs]

Heh...you get something like that in the states, but it's the other way around...the smoother the pavement (asphalt or otherwise) the newer it is. what little I've actually seen of UK Motorway looks coarse and extra cheap...like you guys couldn't get any fine roadbuilding material.

hmm...mabey we should start exporting our old asphalt and concrete ground in chunks for the rest of you guys to use?

 

[G.T]

No, I don't think this is what the G.T. is on about. These sections of motorway just seem to be part of the main carriageway. They are, as TsLeng says, bits of concrete. They're horrible to drive on, and not particularly grippy, especially in the wet.

Ah, I see. So I suppose it's like that because it's cheaper than the normal tarmac?