PREVENTION: The government has launched a program to enhance road quality and asked the six municipalities to elevate the skid resistance rating of surface markings

Taipei Times
Date: May 15, 2019
By: Shelley Shan  /  Staff reporter

The Ministry of the Interior’s Construction and Planning Agency has asked the six special municipalities to enhance skid resistance for road surface markings to reduce accidents especially during rainy days.

The standard skid resistance rating for road surface marking is set at 45 British pendulum number (BPN), the agency said, adding that motorists could lose control of their vehicles on such roads if the tire tread is not deep enough or the tires are not in good condition.

The agency and the Ministry of Transportation and Communications have created a trial program to enhance road quality, which includes asking transportation department officials in the six special municipalities — Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung — “to elevate the skid resistance rating of the road surface marking.”

The agency suggested that the skid resistance rating be gradually elevated to 65 BPN for roads in urban areas, and between 50 BPN and 65 BPN for roads in rural areas.    [FULL  STORY]