Can riding a motorcycle on road markings be dangerous?
Show the correct answer
Correct answer
B. Yes, road markings may be slippery regardless of weather conditions.
Explanation
In the photo you are riding in town towards a pedestrian crossing with traffic lights; on the roadway you can see wide white stripes P-10, and there are pedestrians at the side. Riding a motorcycle over road markings can be dangerous, because road markings can be slippery regardless of the weather conditions - answer B.
The Road Traffic Act requires you to take into account the condition of the road when choosing your speed and way of riding. The paint and thermoplastic material used for stripes, arrows and lines have a smoother surface than asphalt, so the tyre has less grip on them. In the wet the difference is greatest - a white stripe behaves like ice - but also in the dry a thick layer of markings polished by wheels gives less grip, especially in hot weather, when it softens, and when it is dusty. That is why answers A and C, which link the danger only with rain, are wrong. The rule for a motorcyclist: you ride over road markings upright and at a steady speed, you do not brake on them and you do not pull away at full throttle, and you plan a bend so that you lean over clean asphalt. In the photo, when braking for the crossing, you finish braking before the stripes, not on them.
Legal basis: Art. 19 para. 1 of the Road Traffic Act (Prawo o ruchu drogowym)