Centerline: The Surprising History of Lane Markings

[@warbuzzard7167]

As a roadway worker, I salute your wonderful effort here. So much goes into our work that it is difficult to overstate the effort and complexity of safe road design and construction.

[@davidelack8809]

I worked for AZdot for a few years building interstate signage. Believe it or not the history of highway signs and signs in general is quite interesting,perhaps an episode on that subject might be something to explore. Thank you for using your immense talent to make history so entertaining.

[@nolgroth]

It's official, THG can even make drying paint interesting.

[@joezephyr]

Fabulous!

[@donf3877]

Interesting yes... but I still don't think I'll sit and watch it while it does :)

[@neils5539]

Great comment, made me laugh.

[@kirtliedahl]

HA HA HA Excellent comment- I wish I'd have thought of it!

[@jayhache5609]

Nice!

[@jamesporter5630]

Don’t know why but “forgotten” history about the mundane is...well, anything but. Your episodes never disappoint. Thank you.

[@Roger-ny9xr]

As a civil engineer who has spent a lot of my 40+ year career designing improvements of local and county roadways, it was especially interesting to learn how quickly automotive use became the norm in the US and how pavement marking standardization developed over the years. Thank you.

[@SuperHigear]

Having driven trucks for years on the highways across America I really liked this episode! But it never dawned on me that the white line I chased had a history that deserved to be remembered. Good job History Guy, thanks!

[@lawrencewheeler8868]

Drove truck for 30 yrs, 18 for Roadway Exp. White line fever, yes!

[@lawrencewheeler8868]

2 lane blacktop, lol

[@johnnybravo-ir3ev]

So you just thought it was always there since beginning of time? Everything has a history.

[@voornaam3191]

Truck? What the heck is a truck? Do you know where that word comes from? I bet it was a wagon you or your horse pulled along the track, the road.

[@tannawannavannabittannawan7138]

johnny bravo ~ Can’t you properly read?? He said, “had a history that deserved to be remembered.” He said nothing about it being there since the beginning of time, nor did he think that. Learn to read and to comprehend!! 🙄

[@robman5988]

After months of watching 'The History Guy' I find myself giving a thumbs up even before watching the episode.

[@mike6932]

I started doing that too, because sometimes when I'm binge watching, I forget to, kinda feel bad after I realize, because good work should be praised

[@joshuamitcham1519]

Me too.History guy is addicting and I have to watch every episode or I feel Ive missed out!

[@mike6932]

@@joshuamitcham1519 it's almost as addicting as chocolate

[@michaelwier1222]

He's THAT good!

[@firemanjim324]

It's just easier that way ..... You already know it is quality content..... 😉

[@ShamelessMcBundy]

I never thought about the history of center lines, but this was truly fascinating.

[@burkevinell]

As a truckdriver for over 40 years, I found this interesting. I enjoy all your videos, thanks for all your hard work.

[@dougcook7507]

As a younger child, I remember driving through Mt Clemons, Mi. Along US127 there was a stretch of highway that would always be covered from side to side in road lines. I eventually came to discover this was where they tested new techniques and paint for striping the roads. In Michigan, they add a reflective additive to the paint. In Ohio, they don't, but use actual reflectors in many locations.

[@DahvPlays]

100 years of markings and people still can't stay in the lines

[@shawnr771]

Lines we dont need no stinking lines.

[@Eric_Hutton.1980]

Get rid of the lines and just have The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly theme song always playing along our highway systems. 😁

[@FRITZI999]

they did´t have Smartphones, Facebook and Instagram back in the days.... ;-)

[@cosuinofdeath]

Or turn their fucking blinkers on

[@shawnr771]

@@FRITZI999 No they had bathtub gin and moonshine.

[@KarlBunker]

"Now the boys all thought I'd lost my sense And telephone poles looked like a picket fence. They said, "Slow down! I'm seein' spots! The lines on the road just look like dots." Commander Codey, "Hot Rod Lincoln"

[@donaldstanfield8862]

That's a riot!

[@ronfullerton3162]

There seems to always be a Cadillac involved. Such as in the song "Beep Beep". "The guy must of wanted to pass me up because he kept on tooting his horn. I'll show him that a Cadillac is not a car to score".

[@stevenroland7472]

Son You gonna drive me to drinkin' If you don't stop driving that HOT ROD Lincoln.

[@genebohannon8820]

@ Ron Fullerton it was a v8 caddy engine shoved in a Lincoln

[@ronfullerton3162]

@@genebohannon8820 I will have to go back and listen to the song, but I thought he was chasing a Caddy that had passed him and got his buddies to egging him on. I guess I need to go back and listen to the old times more often.

[@slayer8actual]

There are things that we see everyday and take for granted that they have been around forever. Then you see a presentation like this and come to realize that those things were not even standardized, required or in common use in some places when you were born. Thanks for making me feel old History Guy.

[@Peckerwood-502]

I have yet to find a channel on KZbin that I like more than this one. Thank you for making absolutely everything interesting.

[@RSEFX]

Edward Hines Drive runs the length or an approximate 18 mile long park outside of Detroit, a park I was fortunate to live right across the street from for many years: That park and the river that ran through it provided endless places for picnicking, sports (mostly softball and hardball, but also tennis and other field play games), winter activities (sledding, tobaggoning (sp?), ice skating etc etc, plus all kinds of locations for us aspiring film-making kids back in the day, where we could make jungle, comedy and scif-fi films with our regular 8mm cameras. So a salute to that namesake, Mr. Hines! Thanks for the video!!

[@andykilo5167]

Another interesting story is of an Ohio highway worker who began the use of edge lines that designate between the active roadway and the berm. Another example of incremental improvements on our roadways.

[@DanOCan]

Hands up if you both cringed while seeing those great old cars get wrecked and are now wanting to take a road trip. Great episode!

[@timothycook2917]

🙌🙌

[@1allanbmw]

I was thinking exactly the same thing! Oh.... the horror!!!

[@johnmccallum8512]

... But at the time they were not great old cars they were just another automobile.

[@waswestkan]

Nah didn't bother me in the least, odds are they wouldn't had survived to see today. In the event they did, what some us would do, to make them comfortable, durable, reliable,safwe daily drivers; would torque off the purists.

[@billmalloy448]

The best road trip these days is to drive through the Rockies during freezing weather in a convertible with the heat on, the windows up but the top down. It's exhilarating as long as you don't hit a deer or an elk

[@jimsterrett8214]

I am old enough to remember the new-fangled innovation of painting a line on the right side of the lane to denote the shoulder. My parents thought it was a waste of paint.

[@CPTdrawer22]

Jim Sterrett - Of a Michigan post-winter, that solid white line on the right of the roadway came in mighty handy one night. As shtgun, my duty was to open the right door and tell the driver how far he was from that line. Fog obscured just about everything! Of course, in mid-winter, the freeways were all one color: White!

[@51WCDodge]

In UK it is pointed out, Road Paint costs money! It isn't put there if it isn't needed

[@karaamundson3964]

My mom used to grumble about the middle brake light in the same way

[@drtee51]

For a long time before the 1970s, in Nebraska, a shoulder stripe indicated a no-passing zone--Nebraska didn't use yellow center lines. In Pennsylvania, the yellow no-passing zone was only a suggestion; actual mandated no-passing zones were marked with signs. It took us awhile to all get on the same page.

[@th3epcplayer958]

As a Transportation engineer with a minor in history, this episode was awesome for me. Thanks for going out of the way for this one!

[@staciecats7801]

Thank you so very much for making this episode! I shared it with my brother in law who is a Traffic Engineer. You have a real knack for making very interesting episodes on topics that I would never have thought of. Please keep it up and know that I am watching!

[@michaelfraser4396]

I love how HG can take something so simple and make a great story out of it. I think these types of stories are some of your best work.

[@cruisepaige]

They are not simple, though. You assume they are simple when you don’t know about it?

[@michaelfraser4396]

@@cruisepaige I agree. They are not simple. He has a talent for making something that would seem boring and uninteresting and making it intriguing.

[@perentee77]

You know it's not just the history I love here it's the finer more interesting details like the reason cars were painted black is because it dried faster and didn't slow production and the reason we drove on the left was to free up the sword hand in case of enemies.. love it.. Greetings from outback Australia.

[@Lazy_Tim]

Where mate? Aussie myself. A lot of traveling.

[@perentee77]

I live underground in outback South Australia. Bet Lance would never image having viewers watching him whilst living 30 feet underground in the Australian desert😂👍

[@Lazy_Tim]

@@perentee77 Cooper Pedy. Been there many times. You into opals?

[@cogidubnus1953]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pp2mkneOepyShLM

[@Mishn0]

@Ben Jones No, the History Guy has it right. The black 'paint' used on Model Ts was actually, "Japaning", rather than an enamel paint and it dried much quicker than the paint of those days. Modern chemistry has invented much quicker drying paint than they had in the time of the Model T.

[@gregcampwriter]

Here in Arkansas, the state got a deal on paint that turns black at night or whenever it's raining.

[@A_Haunted_Pancake]

LOL, Here in Copenhagen, The city once spend a fortune on "special" paint to completely cover bike-lanes. Very pretty, very robust, but nobody seemed to have checked, that it didn't get slippery as soap when it rains.

[@lawrencewheeler8868]

@@A_Haunted_Pancake must be quite a sight!?

[@danieldaniels7571]

HauntedPancake that’s hysterical

[@JudyGurl]

I think Tennessee got a deal on the same paint.

Same here in Portugal. XD

[@robconsidine4110]

Whether it be suggested entries from viewers or strictly of your own accord, you have a very unique ability for digging up the most interesting little chunks of subject matter which always seems to grab my attention and not let it go. I say Thank You THG for giving me the chance to absorb as much of the past as possible and the opportunity to pass as much of it to the next generation as I can.

[@judyhunt123]

Wow, that was surprisingly interesting! Never would I have imagined the broken lines are the dimensions they are. I'm really enjoying your videos.

[@shawnharrington9548]

You can make even the most mundane subject interesting. Thank you.

[@stratonut]

when I was a kid, lines on the road seemed like a common sense always been there type of thing..turns out it was a fairly new concept. man I'm getting old.

[@bxdanny]

Well, they'd certainly been around a long time when I was a kid. But I do remember seeing at least one two-way road with a white center line. It was unusual but not unheard of.

[@jazzman5115]

A lot of roads in my area (in Germany) don't even have them because they're still made of cobblestone. Never questioned the lack, or the absence of lines really.

[@jeffmartin3406]

The "rumble strip" is the greatest safety invention since the white line down the middle. It has gotten many a tired and or drunk driver home at night.

[@lwilton]

The Botts Dot came first by a bit and can arguably be more important. At least in dry areas like So. Cal., when it rains the lines disappear completely, especially at night with oncoming headlights glaring off the standing water on the road and into your eyes. Reflector dots on the lines meant that you could still see the lane markings in the rain. That's not to say rumble strips aren't useful, but if I had to make a choice, I'll take the dots. BTW, most people don't know that the white reflector dots down freeway lines are only white on one side. They are red on the other side. If you somehow find yourself trying to go down the wrong way on the freeway at night you see a sea of red dots reflecting back at you. Probably doesn't help drunks, they probably just assume that someone repainted all the road dots while they were at the bar.

[@jeffmartin3406]

The Bott dots take a beating from the snow plow blades in the Midwest, but they are a great addition to safety. When we receive a blanket of snow on the highway, the rumble strips act as Braille would for a blind person, listening to your wheels hitting the bumps lets you know exactly where you are on the road. 40 years driving truck has shown that sometimes obvious safety solutions can save lives.

[@danieldaniels7571]

l wilton when I was a kid my family often traveled to California from Arizona where we lived. AZ didn’t have the dots then but there were all over CA and I found them fascinating

[@Shaun.Stephens]

Those rumble strips are the enemy of evolution. They only help bad drivers.

[@rockland2]

I wilton, for some reason, probably economic, they are not replacing the Botts Dots on the roads after they repave them anymore, so they are slowly being fazed out. Sad.

[@wyndorphstormcrow8372]

I love your channel, you must do insane amounts of research for these, I love the format and way you present everything, fabulous work.

[@HSMiyamoto]

My transportation engineering professor told us that the center line is the most cost effective safety improvement ever invented. Decades later, we know that eliminating the center line is the single most cost effective traffic calming measure.

[@bobg1685]

Who would ever imagine that the lines on a road would be so interesting? Well done, as usual.

[@URKillingme100]

If you liked that, you'll love the history of bricks that I saw a few years ago on PBS. I've never looked at a brick the same way since.

[@MrStabby19812]

Bob G that's the ability of a good teacher to make the ordinary and mundane interesting.

[@kinglerxstbtpc]

Another part of our everyday life that we've come to take for granted.

[@jenellehardin2670]

I was amazed to learn it was only in 1971 that the yellow center, white lane practice was standardized. Wow.

[@stevedietrich8936]

Wife: "Well, what did you learn today?" Me: "The history of the line down the center of the road." Wife: Quizzical look.

[@living2ndchildhood347]

Steve Dietrich: Now I know why England drives on the wrong side of the road!!!

[@ronfullerton3162]

@@living2ndchildhood347 So in lands of the British Empire, beware of the sword!

[@nokiot9]

That’s a sock puppet Steve

[@TheGreatSteve]

@@living2ndchildhood347 Left is right.

[@kaelshade4275]

@@TheGreatSteve left is left

[@Takahanazawa]

Thank you so much, history guy! I searched for "who invented traffic lanes" and 90% of the results were about who invented traffic lights or why traffic is so bad. I knew I could count on you to give me the straight dope on this mundane history that deserves to be remembered

[@jasonduncan2814]

I'm constantly amazed at how the History Guy makes an interesting video out of things I wouldn't consider worth my time to learn about. Keep up the good work, sir!

[@AtomicReverend]

I love automotive history and you taught me something new today and that says a lot since I love vintage industrialized America.

[@danielstickney2400]

As long as you're on the subject of roads, I'd love it if you did a segment on the nationwide "Good Roads" movement of 1919, which the Federal Government supported by providing state and local highway departments with WWI surplus trucks, or the First Transcontinental Motor Convoy of 1919, which included a young Lt. Colonel named Dwight Eisenhower and gave him the idea for the Interstate Highway system. both are definitely history that deserves to be remembered.

[@MrChugwater]

Here's a suggestion for a new episode. The "Mousetrap Incident" in Denver Colorado. In the early morning hours of August 1, 1984, an 18 wheeler carrying torpedoes bound for a naval base on the east coast of the US overturned in the interchange of Interstate Highways 25 and 70. The interchange is known to those in Denver as "The Mousetrap." At the time, the interchange was an outdated design that had insanely sharp curves and required traffic to merge on the left side. The driver of the truck misjudged the sharpness of one of the exit ramps and the truck overturned. Police responding to the accident were taken aback when they discovered that the truck was carrying several tons live explosives tried to contact a hotline on what to do if there was a problem/emergency with the load. There was no answer as the office was closed at the time of the accident. When someone was finally able to answer the phone several hours later, no one was sure what to do next as no one was aware that there was even a load of torpedoes going to the east coast. The accident brought about changes and standards of the way that hazardous loads are carried around the US. It also hastened the rebuilding of not only this particular highway interchange, it standardized changes in the design and layout of others too. All in the name of a better Mousetrap.

[@stan.rarick8556]

"Live explosives" being transported? I have a hard time believing that they had detonators installed. (and they would not have been torpedoes if not filled with explosives). And apparently they were loaded back onto the truck and *escorted* to the Arsenal. Maybe dangerous if fire had been involved, but otherwise.....how dangerous is a stick of dynamite without a detonator?

[@MrChugwater]

@@stan.rarick8556: from what I can gather, the torpedoes were being transported inside special cases and then placed on a flatbed truck and the load was sent through downtown Denver un-escorted as the driver did not stick to the designated route that would bypass a major populated area. When the truck turned over, it split open the special casing that the torps were transported in. The fuel cell for one of the torps was leaking fuel (hydrogen peroxide based?) which is just as dangerous as the warhead itself. This accident set the standard for hazardous material transport. Here's the link kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4SVpmWDibSYn7s

[@stan.rarick8556]

Unescorted before the accident, escorted after. I also saw the video of a filmed contemporaneous report made by a local tv station, which you linked to.

[@MrChugwater]

@@stan.rarick8556 The NTSB report (cannot find the link at the moment) said the signage along the highway was faded and were covered by tree limbs. The corner at "The Mousetrap" needed to be taken at less than 20 mph and the truck at the time was doing well over 45 mph when it entered the corner (judging by the skid marks). The trailer was a standard height flatbed trailer - not a lowboy version which raised the center of gravity. The driver of the truck had only gotten her CDL certificate in eight months prior and her certificate to haul explosive loads five months prior. It was cited in her evaluations that she needed work on judging speed in corners. Her co-driver handled the load from Rawlins, Wyoming to just north of Denver so that she wouldn't have to drive in the mountains. This one corner is what got 'em. Three years after the accident in 1987, the state began work on tearing up the old Mousetrap interchange and began putting in flyover ramps which lessened the curveature needed. Work was completed sometime in the mid 90's. The interchange got its name back in the 60's from a traffic reporter that quipped that the old interchange would trap the runnings of a mouse.

[@stan.rarick8556]

Thanks for the etymology of the nickname. History that Deserves to be Remembered. 😁

[@ltraina3353]

I live about 20 minutes from the stretch of road Dr. McCarroll painted and had no idea. Also, I was surprised to find out that the standards for yellow and white center markings wasn’t standardized until the year I was born! Thanks for your videos!

[@stephenglass2011]

I like the way he tells his stories ! His delivery reminds me of the great Paul Harvey ! Well done History Guy ! Nicely done ! Paul Harvey is history that deserves to remembered . Can you do a segment on him ?

[@misternewoutlook5437]

One of the benefits of de-centralized governments from federal to state to county to city is that local ideas and concepts get noticed by the visitors and implemented more widely. As the History Guy says, traffic rules took a long time for standards to emerge. I like videos like this. The "how did we get here" theme is helps you understand the world.

[@johnkingsley9525]

As a professional line stripper many years ago having major accounts covering all of Oregon and N. California I had the opportunity to tour the Potter Bead Factory and to buy glass beads for a job that called for fog lines. To see broken glass get ground up into small pieces then dropped down a very tall chimney melting into small beads the size of sand and caught at the bottom then extracted and sifted for size was very interesting and as I understand it Mr. Potter was the inventor of the fog lines and the beads when put in the wet paint reflect your headlights.

[@williamvanorden4700]

I love this. I've been driving semi for 21 yrs and never knew how it all started. Thank you for all your great work. Cant wait to see more.

[@od1452]

During the 70s in rural California before reflective center and white edge lines.. I often had to drive as close as I could to the Center line ,often with my head out the window in an effort to find the road on dark heavy rainy nights. The later addition of edge lines and later reflective center markings made driving safer at night particularly during bad weather. So ..it wasn't that long ago that we were still developing these safety features.

[@earlewhitcher970]

If in fact "Lane Markings" is the lead in to this presentation, I am surprised that the shoulder markings, sometimes called the "fog" line wasn't covered. It was my personal experience that such markings did not exist on roads up to 1970, but after being stationed abroad for four years (I refer to this as my time spent "off the planet") when I returned in 1974 the fog lines, to my great appreciation, had been added to most roads. I applaud whom so ever convinced the DOT's of the country to add these invaluable aids to safety.

[@briangarrow448]

I used to help with painting road markings with the street crew when I was a wastewater treatment plant operator. (In a small town you do multiple things.) It was by far the most dangerous work we did. Unfortunately people don't pay attention when driving. Please be attentive when driving. Especially in work zones.

[@ronfullerton3162]

How true! Everyone should be made to flag or work on a road to see how much fun it is to have people trying to run you over.

[@sharonshookup]

They paint the lines in the middle of the night here in my small town. I think it is illegal in Canada to drive over wet paint and one could get a ticket for doing so with frequency.

[@johnstark4723]

I almost got hit about a dozen times the other night while plowing snow by people who always have to be first. A couple are lucky they weren't first to their graves!

[@ronfullerton3162]

@@johnstark4723 And if they ended up being first to the grave, it would of been stupid people blaming the blade operator. It is hard enough to watch the truck, the blade, and surrounding area for obstructions. But then you are expected to watch out for stupid. And they would not last a minute in the seat of a plow.

[@johnstark4723]

@@ronfullerton3162 lol, I was one of the last seasonal drivers hired to plow three years ago. This year they put something new in where the new hires all have to do their normal training (and pass) plus now they have to ride an entire shift with a regular driver to learn the ropes. I couldn't have taken sitting in the passenger seat for 12 hours 🤪🙄🥴

[@richardsiemion5903]

Every time I see a thumbnail and headline from you and think “this one is going to be the first one I couldn’t care less about.” I click on it out of curiosity and you prove me wrong every time.

[@Vodhin]

Thank you for another great story! Not only is your presentation superb, but I must also commend whomever writes and edits your shows for putting them together with absolutely perfect structure.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

I do all the editing myself. We have a handful of writers, and the author of any episode is in the description. This one was authored by my son. This is a playlist of episodes he has authored: kzbin.info/aero/PLSnt4mJGJfGgsRB5YBDYNnEt34vpr_B9w

[@engrs4wrd2]

As a former resident of Indio, CA (1968-86), I find it amusing that such interesting history took place in my former home town. Thanks for sharing!

[@catherinecrawford2289]

During my honeymoon in rural Michigan, my new husband wistfully said his Grandpa had "explained where the highway markings come from," and I always assumed it was a simple answer given to a small boy's question of why there were lines. When I saw this topic I gasped and now I realize the topic was alot more involved. His Grandpa was a lawyer for the City of Chicago so I'm sure the answer was much closer to your video than I ever imagined.

[@Paladin1873]

The fascinating history of everything and anything.

[@suleskos.2743]

And that is exactly why I love history so much, everywhere you look, there it is! Which is a good thing since I cant really get enough of it.

[@Paladin1873]

@@suleskos.2743 Maybe Simon should be placed in charge on a new History Channel that recreates past events of things that we might consider trivial or noncontroversial today. I'd hire the History Guy as story editor.

[@SisterShirley]

Another good one Professor I live very near to Edward Hines Drive in Michigan. It is part of the Wayne County Roads division and is such a nice road to travel. It is 17 miles long and is part of a natural floodplain so it often closes down after a large rainfall or when the snow melts quickly. In November and December it is the host of the Wayne County Lightfest. Not all 17 miles are illuminated but still a lovely drive for the holidays. Thank you for sharing your knowledge Professor. Most sincerely, A Proud Michigander 🐢

[@gsbrady3]

Fascinating!!!!! Who even thinks about lines on the road having history. Very entertaining!!! Thanks History Guy!

[@jaybouchard5997]

This is exactly the kind of bite size fun bar trivia I can tell people in a social setting that gets alway gets a couple people interested Great video and amazing channel

[@carlmontney7916]

This is a really great video filled with information that I never knew or ever thought I'd care about. Now I will never look at lane markings the same again after watching this video. I am also convinced that the history guy could do a video about watching grass grow and you would want to go outside sit down and watch the grass grow. Great job well done sir!

[@riggs20]

My co-workers Monday: We had a great weekend! Partied hard! How 'bout you? Me: Watched a documentary on the history of lane markings - It was really interesting! Co-workers: ...

[@truckertriesfarming9792]

Ha. Sounds like me. A couple of years ago, I was really excited about my new mailbox. I put the brand new box on a nice, new cedar post. It looked spiffy. Then, it occured to me, that 16 year old me would look at 41 year old me, and declare that I was pretty effing lame, lmao.

[@TobiasRieper047]

Interesting topic. Here in Holland I believe the use of lane markings was adopted post-WWII with the exception of cities and town central squares. All tough we have had stop stripes and markings indicating where to stop as well as slowly adopting the zebra-stripes as pedestrian crossings (sometimes also referred as piano keys), in the 50's to 60's road markings became more popular. Unsure when it was officially used, but my guesses are in the early 60's most European countries had markings. Long dashed striping for lane separation, single-uncut lines on either side of the road to mark the berms and soft sides. Funny thing is that in countries as France, Spain and some Scandinavian ones, the outer-road lines were cut in dashed lines on routes outside city areas and on non-motorways/highways. In the 90's I do remember when we started using more colored patterns to indicate specific zones. Here in The Netherlands, the general markings are white. Yellow/(bright)-orange usually is only use when indicating roadwork or a temporary traffic detour change. Interesting is that by law, the orange/yellow markings will then over-rule the yellow road lines, even if the white ones haven't either been painted over or removed. We now have colored center-line surrounded by two dashed or unbroken lines, green-zone usually means you're allowed to drive faster than 100kmh, or the speet limit is 100kmh (about 60 mph), whilst we also have similar as above (with the French, Spanish and Scandinavian style), Purple berms/outer markers, lined on the insides of each lane with dashed lines and in the very center either dashed or uncut line. This indicates the speed limit is 80 Kmh/45-ish Mph (Correct me if i'm wrong on the maths there). These zone-markings have made it by law to always overrule regular street-signs unless indicated that there are roadworks or sharp turns ahead. European countries also developed the 'Shark teeth' at T junctions or intersections, I believe in the 70's, indicating where to yield for tru-traffic. Same with roundabouts that are a fairly common thing here, it breaks up and divides traffic without having to stop them or causing mayor hold ups, as well as keeping drivers alert of their speed. (Of course if they aren't distracted by their phones in the current day and state). To round it off, there is a lot of differences on road markings, British ones differ from most EU ones, but there are similarities in India and Asia area where the UAE and Australia/New Zealand seem to have adopted a lot from the US markings.

[@MrMattumbo]

There are still 45mph roads near me that have no lines, they're rural but still high-traffic so it makes it interesting. Most people know how to position their car without the line, but there's plenty of people who don't and drive with a tire where the centerline would be. I've gotten really good at sticking my right wheels on the edge of the road to avoid these people.

[@MFKR696]

Fun fact about those early race cars you mentioned: Most old cars are known for having crappy brakes, but those early race-cars didn't have any brakes at all, unless you count the transmission brake, which is really only good for use as a half-assed parking brake. They used to fit wire-deflectors to the front bonnets of the cars so that if the driver went off the road, he wouldn't have his head ripped off by a fence wire. When you have no brakes, that's a handy feature to have, especially when you don't have anything resembling a proper wind-shield, either lol.

[@normlacasse2548]

Many thanks to The History Guy for the information! I grew up in Garden City, MI, and now know that Hines Drive was named after Edwin Hines. It's a beautiful drive through Hines Park, where much time was spent with family and friends!

[@JenniferMenendez522]

This is my first time watching a video from THG. Growing up in Michigan, driving on the roads that were mentioned, along with being a former driving instructor and road test examiner; I truly appreciate this video! Keep up the great work! :-)

[@azsazs6039]

I love history, i like how you put your videos together. Please keep up the great work. For the most part KZbin is degenerate but channels like yours gives me hope. Thank you History guy.

[@ffrreeddyy123456]

I got chills when I heard, “in Oregon!” I’m so happy to have that info to share now. I’m in hood river (come visit!) and only a few miles away from that gorgeous old time pic of the Gorge.

[@irenemarcus967]

Fascinating facts, impressive visual images, concise brevity makes this another thoroughly enjoyable episode. Thank you.

[@harrisonofthenorth]

According to a study published by the International Road Federation (IRF) in 2018, the estimated total length of roads worldwide was approximately 64 million kilometers (39.8 million miles).

[@Egglicks7]

I really like this video. I love stories about common things in life that we never think about like road markings. Thanks for all the hard work that goes into this channel.

[@GameInterest]

Yours is one of the few channels that actually deserves a diamond play button. Your videos are actually super interesting.

[@meredith2491]

Totally agree

[@stoneyll]

I have been waiting for the next video, and the History Guy never lets me down~!

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

We post every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

[@ronfullerton3162]

@@TheHistoryGuyChannel And many of us are waiting Monday, Wednesday, and Friday!

[@johnkufeldt3564]

@@TheHistoryGuyChannel You should be proud of the fact that many people can't wait for Monday now, just for the pleasure of hearing you share all this History that Deserves to be Remembered, thank you

[@fluxerflixer1]

My father started a road striping business in the late 1960’s and over 50 years later the company is alive and well along with my father. Thanks for this video! Very entertaining.

[@garystar1592]

In Canada, where environment laws are strict, water based latex is used to refresh lines, and epoxy, MMA, thermoplastic are used when highway's/high traffic area's are paved. The water base latex often disappears in the winter, and often the markings are not visible on snow covered surfaces.

[@JoseRivera-lt2cc]

I’ve experienced living in West Africa and road lane markings (for that matter, paved roads) is not common. Rainy season driving on black asphalt in the dark of night is a whole new adventure especially as road shoulders generally end abruptly with one to three foot drops making edge marking that more appreciated. Even when marked, poor paint application & the use of regular, not reflective, paint is another feature we’ve come to take for granted.

[@AlexMartinez-me2yc]

"It can take a suprising amout of time for the obvious to become.... OBVIOUS!" Truth. LoL

[@johnrickert5572]

As a pure mathematician, I can say that that is a remarkable understatement. My thanks to THG for that insight.

[@wjf0ne]

Alex Martinez Politicians and public money. Did you expect them to use it for public safety when there are junkets to be had on the tax payer dime?

[@101perspective]

I don't think road marks were all that obvious of a thing until we started getting more vehicles... and faster ones. I've gone down my share of low traffic roads (gravel and even asphalt) that have no markings. It's not that big a deal. In fact, it's safer in some areas since those roads (like many in the past) are usually narrower. If you put markings on them people would be riding way too close to the side of the road for long periods of time vs providing more of a safety margin in the middle only when a vehicle approaches. One of your wheels goes off the side and it stands a chance of plowing into the soft shoulder and flipping the vehicle.

[@roadie3124]

@@johnrickert5572 I'm the first person to give you a like for this post. I would suggest that 99.99% of the population think that high level maths is doing arithmetic fast. I did pure maths, applied maths and physics (three subjects) for A-Levels in the UK. While the maths was fun, physics was more fun. I met some good mathematicians at university and the interest was still there. But physics and engineering took over. My college at Cambridge had a few well-known mathematicians and physicists including Isaac Newton, Charles Babbage, Francis Bacon, James Maxwell, Lord Raleigh, J.J. Thomson (discovered the electron), etc. We had some non-science type people as well, so we weren't total geeks. Dryden, Byron, Tennyson, Houseman, A.A. Milne, Vladimir Nabokov, etc. The mathematicians were interesting. Their entry requirements were very high. The college more or less said that if you have a measurable IQ, don't bother to apply. Some were a bit strange, but interesting 😁

[@markkay4224]

if it were only so simple

[@kamalhurree6480]

Best History channel in the world 🌎. Thank you so much ☺️

[@4OHz]

Enjoy your presentations very much, thanks- and from this I discovered who local resident Edward Hines is/was. There is a road and park along the western suburbs of Detroit: Edward Hines Drive and Edward Hines Park; one more edifice in honor of our motoring past. Thanks again

[@danaxtell2367]

Thank you for this veer from your centerline of wars and airplane crashes (I say that based on my KZbin recommendations--that focus may be my bad). You have been the bluegrass music of KZbin in that someone's going to die towards the end. With "Lane Markings," people stopped dying so much. This is a civil engineering success story. I'm a civil engineering dropout (I got the consolation BSE instead of the professional BSCE) and I admire successful civil engineers. I know first hand that those people who design our infrastructure have serious chops (I also have a music degree, so I'm qualified to use the "chops" cliche). I hope you expand on this engineering thread. There are civil engineering jokes about the "second oldest profession" and "a sewage line through a great recreational area," but civil engineering tells us so much about how we deal with our age-old and new-found problems . Those centerlines would have underwhelmed without the engineer's insistence on even-radius curves. And no one fusses about parabolic hill crests, but you need that to maintain optimal traction. "Thank-you-ma'am" abrupt bridge crossings were kind of fun when I was young in the 1960's, but the thanked ma'am robs you of steering. And, heck, the study of history is all about steering--from where we were to the inevitable something happening next. Keep posting, please.

[@peggyjones3282]

When my dad was little, they standardized the color of the lines on roads. My dad asked my grandpa why the used yellow for the middle and white for the sides. My grandpa's simple, but probably accurate reply, "white paint is probably cheaper than yellow." 🙂

[@psycho-nutkase9233]

White became to be known as the fog line , right side of the lane. Yellow became to be known as caution opposing traffic on the left side of lane. 🤷‍♂️ Duno though the complete origin of it.

[@ItsAVolcano]

I remember reading how in the early days of automobiles politicians actually opposed early traffic laws feeling that anyone foolish enough to get hit by a car deserved it. Mind you this was when even luxury cars struggled to hit 30mph.

[@elweasel2010]

What would the world look like if Pink paint was the fastest drying?

[@Silverado138]

😂🤣

[@mikecurtin9831]

One shudders to think.

[@andrewlund8252]

Wouldn't that make the US a pink car-nation?

[@paulwoodman5131]

Hahaha, old joke, we would have a pink Car Nation.

[@mikecurtin9831]

@@andrewlund8252 Groan!!! I love it.

[@motorcop505]

Great job, as always! As a former police traffic division commander i have been very fascinated with all traffic markings. As for the French adopting the right hand drive, it was said that the French king was left handed and so preferred right hand driving. This may be apocryphal though. Today, a great deal of research goes into traffic signage and markings, far more than most people think. As an aside, in the medieval section of Bruges, Belgium, the crosswalks are made out of white stones that are set into the cobblestone roads to help preserve as much of the historical nature as possible while still adding modern conveniences and safety measures.

[@LindysEpiphany]

I love learning stuff like this! Well, really I love learning everything! Reminded me how recent car history is and how far we've come in that short time. Although center line markings should have been a no brainer. I think alot of times things don't happen until they've become overwhelmingly troublesome and something has to be done. Thanks History Guy!

[@hoosierhiver]

A friend of mine told me that as a kid, her mom said "the lines in the road were so blind people could drive too." She said this in class and still stings from the embarrassment.

[@sharonshookup]

Yeah.... my Dad said his father invented Coleslaw... because his name was Cole...... totally embarrassed when I let that one out in public.

[@jackfrost2146]

She was getting confused about the fact that Russia is where blind people are allowed to drive.

[@andrewjames1366]

hoosierhiver The light on the vacuum cleaner is so you can still see in case the power goes out.

[@masungayongiro]

So far, the only guy to make lane markings compelling....

[@rumi9005]

I clicked on this link idly this morning rather expecting it to be a tedious video equivalent of watching paint dry. But (as he so often does) 'The History Guy' captivated me with his opening statement. This time concerning the center line road marking. And after that I was hooked. So thank you for a fascinating history so well presented.

[@lunarwrase]

So interesting as usual. Thank you for more history. Something to add is that is you drive 55 MPH and tap your foot while you sing Duke of Earle your foot tapping will match up as each white line goes by.

[@compscript7973]

The history of things so common that we do not even think about. Only here on "The history Guy"

[@ElectroDFW]

Me: "Is tape inevitable, or if it hadn't been invented, would it never have been?"

[@donfelipe7510]

They say the chap that invented the "cats eye" reflectors for the middle of the road got the idea after seeing a cats eyes in the darkness as it was coming towards him. Likewise the chap who invented the pencil sharpener saw a cat walking away from him :-)

[@michaelwarren2391]

Good one! This will keep me laughing every time I sharpen a pencil from now on!

[@paulzammataro7185]

Benny Hill episode: He's singing about a drinking club that his character belongs to. He's at a bar and his wife comes in and starts yelling at him for being drunk. He says to her "I'm fine - see that cat walking into the room"?...."I can see from here that he only has one eye"! The wife: "You're drunk"! "That cat is walking out"!!

[@NOISEDEPT]

@@paulzammataro7185 - Haha, brilliant. ""Just because no one complains, doesn't mean all parachutes are perfect"" - Benny Hill.

[@jamesheath4845]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bIXRf6epbq6ioNU

[@danbardos3498]

Lmao

[@GTVAlfaMan]

As a teenager from Melvindale, Michigan we used to party and cruise our cars and always get busted by the cops at Hines Park. I never knew the history behind the Hines name until now.

[@mfaizsyahmi]

In Hines sight it's quite obvious now isn't it

[@privatepilot4064]

Buick Mackane, me too! Partying in Hines Park! Went to Riverside HS! Great memories there!

[@evryhndlestakn]

Thank you for your wide range of subjects & dedication to history THG & THG's family.

[@jefferypiotrowski6059]

The History Guy episode on the development of the center line on roads was fascinating. I had no idea that Edward Hines had such an impact on its creation. Ironically, Hines drive has often flooded, due to its proximity to a creek. I also beleive that the Davison Freeway, a short distance in length was the first paved concrete freeway in the Michigan & the United States. The metro Detroit area holds many firsts in the anals of road developement. Kudos! History Guy, for a job well done & info worth remembering! Jeff Piotrowski, Lake Orion, Michigan

[@naysaykiller928]

Wake up to a History Guy video, it's gonna be a good day.

[@bronsg1578]

Theres a lot of roads where i live that dont have center lines. Its on country roads though.

[@knurlgnar24]

This is an important comment that likely won't get much attention. The majority of paved roads in the USA by mile have no lines painted on them. This commonly applies to smaller rural roads and residential streets. Road markings are not as important as many people who never leave big cities think. They are useful - not essential.

[@5roundsrapid263]

West Virginia? 😄

[@pauljoyner4338]

Sounds like Virginia.

[@stan.rarick8556]

@@knurlgnar24 I grew up on a country road wide enough to vehicles to easily pass. No white line to this day

[@stevebailey325]

Dr. Mccarroll, originator of the phrase "stay in your lane!".

[@taun856]

I've traveled to a lot of other countries in my years, and in a depressingly large number of them, the lines on the roads are treated as "suggestions"...

[@W7DSY]

And her first comment on the road was: "LOOK OUT!!!"

[@Ugly_German_Truths]

And probably also responsible for "Get off my lawn" (as she drove into the ditch :D)

[@lawrencewheeler8868]

Some lines here are painted by the DUI squad I think!! Lol

[@JayJay-lc5qq]

The History Guy is amazing! So many things that he addresses are things have always been curious about. Thank you sir!

[@ovalwingnut]

Really (really) well done. VERY high production value... As good if not better than any commercial segment, IMHO. Truly Must-See-TV 👍😁 Thank you ❤🇺🇸

[@tfranken1561]

Don't think lines are important? Wait till there is snow on the road and you can't see them.

[@moomoo3031]

or at night in the fog! tho one time going up the Blue Ridge Parkway in VA in the foggiest night I have ever been out in, 10mph was pushing it. I was following that solid white line on the side of the road and all of the sudden it turned a hard right and then quit! I was in an overlook.

[@libertyresearch-iu4fy]

There was a three-lane road I often drive on that recently got repaved and the lines did not get painted for a couple of days. OMG!

[@ObservingtheObvious]

I’ve grown up and aged in the Mountain West (CO,WY,MT) lived many a year in snow country. When the lines are covered, watch out! Even the locals can get confused.

[@tfranken1561]

liberty research same here only it was a seven lane intersection, including turn lanes, anybody remember the episode of Seinfeld when Kramer painted over the lines?

[@johnstark4723]

Try plowing those roads with no side markers. Either you see dirt flying or the crash of metal vs concrete curb, and neither is a good thing

[@albertlert]

"Ask not what your country can do for you, ask: 'which road can I paint for my country? '" - Not a historical quote.

[@jefferyjeffery1707]

Hmm...!! I guess there's more to a line, than meets the eye!!! Interesting... When did the first State require a license test....to see if people knew what all the signs and lines mean?? And to think back....in my learning to drive at the age of seven....the joy and freedom, of driving without rules or guides....thru the open fields and pastures!! Scared the hell out of me, years later at 16, to first time I drove on our local State Highway. To see that 1ton of steel cars, hurtling at me down the road at 65mph. Separated by a 4inch wide....piece of paint!! And its only a line!! ⚘

[@jennaolbermann7663]

This is something I had never truly thought about before. The way it is presented here, it is actually interesting. Thank you. This is something we take for granted today.

[@fredglidden8942]

I remember traveling from Mass to NH, you could tell when you were in NH because the lines went from a normal double yellow line in MA to a wider spaced double yellow line with a white dashed line in the middle in NH.

[@isaacroebuck9514]

6:39 I think the Michigan DOT has been living off of that first grant for the past 120 years.

[@christianfreedom-seeker2025]

I know, that poor State has the undortunate "honor" of being the most corrupt State in the country, not far behind NY and CA. Oddly those States have been run into the ground FOR YEARS by Democrat political machines.

[@BEW419]

@@christianfreedom-seeker2025 The state houses are Republican dominated.... 💁🏻‍♂️