Retroreflectivity standards are a good thing; they should ultimately result in better markings and safer roads. They will also, however, result in increased accountability for material manufacturers and pavement marking crews.

• Warranty contracts, which tie performance of the line to payment or financial penalties for the contractor, are being used more and more. Many states are issuing warranty contracts this year, while numerous other states are watching closely as they consider warranty contracts for the future.

• Pavement marking materials are being scrutinized more carefully. Some states, like Minnesota, have added stringent retroreflectivity performance testing to their bidding process on paint and beads, to ensure that manufacturers provide products that will provide the required line brightness on the road.

• State DOTs and other political subdivisions are scrutinizing the pavement marking process more closely to ensure better line performance.

The bottom line is that government marking crews and contractors alike need to be ready to stand behind the performance of their markings; and this includes retroreflectivity. Quality control of the striping process will be more important this year than ever before. Here are a few steps you should take to make sure you are getting the best performance out of the materials you put down.

• Test your equipment to ensure appropriate paint coverage. This testing should be done throughout the season, and equipment operation should be closely monitored during every job.

• Evaluate the materials you use. The cost balance between price and performance has become more critical, since performance of the line will have as much impact on profitability as the cost of the materials.

• Make sure you are using the right paint-bead combination. Non-coated, coated, and dual-coated beads can be designed for use with either latex or alkyd paints to ensure maximum brightness of the line.

• Consider fitting your equipment with monitoring equipment. Current technology will allow you to monitor the amount of paint and beads applied, and new technology can now give the operator a constant readout of the gallons of paint being applied per mile, as well as the poundage of beads being applied per gallon of paint. Equipped with a printer, this monitoring equipment will help you document the materials applied.

Highway safety is why we exist, and EZ-Liner is interested in recent developments of retroreflectivity standards. We are not afraid of someone 'raising the bar', and you shouldn't be either. If you would like to discuss what is happening in this area in your state, or get more information about monitoring systems, please call us at l-800-373-4016.