Retroreflectivity is crucial for helping drivers see road markings at night. Road markings are as important as road signs, providing key information for driving.

Today, various materials are used for road markings, including paints, cold-applied plastics, thermoplastics, self-adhesive tapes, modified epoxy resins, and raised pavement markers. Many of these use retroreflective glass beads to enhance nighttime visibility. Retroreflective markings bounce vehicle headlights back to the driver, making signs and markings more visible. This provides essential information, aids navigation, improves traffic flow, and promotes safe driving.

Solar-powered road studs are increasingly used on highways, especially in high-risk areas, and data-gathering studs are also becoming more common. Traffic engineers must choose the right markings or combinations for different applications, and testing markings before and during use is important.

Some innovative solutions aim to improve traffic safety. For example, certain glass beads offer excellent retroreflectivity and resistance to traffic impact, performing well in colored road marking materials.

New road marking products, like those based on methyl methacrylate (MMA), provide durable, easy-to-install markings with better retroreflectivity retention, resulting in brighter and longer-lasting lines in dry and wet conditions. Other innovations include structured road markings that improve visibility in bad weather and decorative preformed thermoplastic materials for playgrounds. Additionally, new ranges of microbeads for road markings are designed to perform well in all conditions, ensuring consistent performance and cost savings.