Botts' dots
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Botts' dots are a form of non reflective raised pavement marker used on roads. In many U.S. states and in several other countries, Botts' dots are used to mark lanes on highways and many arterial roads and to create rumble strips, adding tactile feedback to drivers when they move across designated travel lanes. Botts' dots are named after Dr. Elbert Dysart Botts, a California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) engineer credited with overseeing the research that led to the development of the markers and the epoxy used to attach them to the road.
Botts' dots are typically round markers, most commonly white but also often yellow, and rarely found in black or other colors. They are made of ceramic, polyester, or plastics. In some areas of the United States, Botts' dots may incorporate a reflective lens. Botts' dots are rarely used on freeways in regions where it snows because snow plows scrape them off. Some roads have lanes only marked with Botts' dots, eliminating the need to repaint lane divider lines.
In North America, Botts dots and other rumble strips are increasingly referred to as "drunk bumps." The term was used at least once in an official document issued by the Canadian government.
Botts' dots are not typically used in areas where snow is common, because snow plows are not able to travel over them while clearing the road. [1]
Contents |
[edit] Colors
Botts Dott colors have various meanings. For example:
- Blue - Denotes that there is a fire hydrant nearby. Very common in residential areas.
- Yellow - Denotes a lane divider where the traffic on the opposite side of the line travels in the opposite direction.
- White - Denotes a lane divider where the traffic on the opposite side of the line travels in the same direction.
- Red - Denotes you are traveling the wrong way. Typically "red" is found on the backside of most "white" botts dotts, especially on the freeway.
[edit] History
According to journalist Mark Stein, Caltrans records indicate that its personnel may have been speculating about the concept of raised pavement markers as early as 1936. However, the department did not commence research in earnest until 1953, when the postwar economic boom resulted in an alarming increase in the number of cars and car accidents in California. Painted lines tended to become invisible during rain creating a safety issue during rainy weather.
In September of 1966, the state legislature mandated that Botts dots were to be used for lane markings for all state highways except in areas where it snowed in the winter. Today, there are more than 25 million Botts' dots in use in California.
[edit] References
↑ Cave, Kathryn. "State lab in fast lane of high-tech road gadgets." The Orange County Register, 21 October 1991, sec. A, p. 1.
↑ Haldane, David. "Dots' Demise Denied." Los Angeles Times, 7 March 1997, sec. B, p. 1.
↑ Martin, Hugo. "Behind the Wheel: The Botts Dot's Future May Hit a Bump in the Road." Los Angeles Times, 23 October 2001, sec. B, p. 2.
↑ Richards, Gary. "It May Be End Of Road For Noisy Botts Dots." Contra Costa Times, 18 January 1997, sec. A, p. 3.
↑ Rubenstein, Steve. "Caltrans Plots To Erase Lots Of Botts Dots." San Francisco Chronicle, 18 January 1997, sec. A, p. 13.
↑ Stein, Mark A. "On the Button: The Quest to Perfect Botts' Dots Continues." Los Angeles Times, 11 August 1991, sec. A, p. 3.
