Raised Pavement Markers and Truck Safety

Raised pavement markers guide drivers when lines are hard to see. Here is what RPMs do and how they fit into a work-zone safety setup.

Raised pavement markers, or RPMs, are the reflective bumps set into the road surface to mark lanes. They earn their keep at night and in rain, when painted lines wash out and a driver needs something that catches headlights. In and around work zones, they keep traffic in the right lane where it matters most.

What RPMs add

• Reflective guidance when painted lines are hard to see
• A rumble effect when a tire crosses them, alerting drifting drivers
• Clear lane definition through shifts and tapers
• Better nighttime and wet-weather visibility than paint alone

Where they fit in the plan

RPMs are part of the layered approach to work-zone safety. Message signs warn drivers, arrow boards direct them, RPMs keep them in lane, and the TMA protects the crew if all of that fails. Each layer covers a different failure mode. We can equip trucks for RPM work when a job scope calls for it.