Spring is here. On sunny days, you may want to get a car wash and cruise on the highway.
If you do, watch out for trucks painting lane stripes on the road.
The paint could splatter on your car, state transportation officials say.
“We are asking for drivers’ help this striping season to keep the fresh lane stripes on the road,” said Jerry Althauser, regional maintenance and operations superintendent for the state Department of Transportation.
Because of the improved weather, the department last week began painting lane stripes, said Lauren Chudecke, a department spokeswoman.
Between April and October, crews plan to paint 4,500 miles of lane stripes in Snohomish, King, Skagit, Whatcom and Island counties.
Every year, some drivers drive over the wet lane stripes before they dry out, Chudecke said. That not only spreads paint over vehicles but also removes tiny reflector beads intended to increase visibility in dark, rainy conditions.
In 2006, 70 claims were filed against the state when striping paint got on cars, and 23 of them were paid, according to the department.
The department plans to do several things to alert drivers about wet lane stripes this year. Warning trucks will follow each striping truck. Crews will post electronic message boards with “wet paint” warnings, and they will tell local radio stations where and when trucks are painting lane stripes.
The department also will post weekly information about where striping operations are scheduled on its Web site.
Drivers should watch out for warning signs and trucks, and they should avoid changing lanes near warning and striping trucks, Chudecke said.
Sometimes, drivers don’t pay attention and weave around painting trucks, she said.
Reporter Yoshiaki Nohara: 425-339-3029 or ynohara@heraldnet.com.
To learn when and where crews are painting lane stripes on highways, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/northwest/striping.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
