Road Striping: Help Keep Our Roads, and Your Vehicle, Safe During Striping Season

What is Road Striping and Why Does it Matter?

Every summer, the City of Madison Traffic Engineering Department refreshes many of the lines on City streets. These bright markings help:

• Improve visibility in poor weather and nighttime conditions
• Separate lanes clearly and enhance traffic safety
• Support consistent, safe driving across our road network

Where and When Does Striping Happen?

Our crews apply striping during the summer months across:

• Many City streets, depending on budget and need
• Roads requiring visibility and safety updates

Paint trucks and support vehicles are marked with amber flashing lights and signs. The work areas will be coned signifying wet paint.

How to Drive Safely Around Striping Crews

Passing a striping truck or ignoring wet paint warnings can put your safety—and your car—at risk. Please follow these safety tips:

Do NOT pass paint trucks or support vehicles

• The trucks move slowly because they are doing precision work.
• Avoid following the trucks too closely.
• Wait for them to pull over safely before proceeding.

Obey “Wet Paint” signs and traffic cones

• Even if a truck has left the area, paint may still be drying.
• Driving over wet paint can damage your car and ruin the road markings.

Drive between the lines

• Freshly painted lines remain wet for a short time after application.
• Avoid contact to help the paint cure properly.

What To Do If You Get Paint on Your Vehicle

It’s preventable—but if it happens:

• Act quickly: Get a pressure car wash with hot water and soap on the same day
• If the car wash does not remove the paint, allow the water to dry, spray the paint residue with WD-40, and allow it to remain for one to two hours. Then rewash the vehicle. If there are large concentrations of paint, repeat the WD-40 procedure.
• For heavy accumulations or paint that has dried for several days, apply a liberal coating of Vaseline to the dried traffic paint and allow it to sit overnight. The next day, take the vehicle to a pressure car wash to remove the paint. Repeat this procedure until all paint is removed.
• Do not scrub the finish with a solvent or scouring cleanser—this will damage the finish.
• After cleaning the traffic paint off a vehicle, apply a quality car wax to the finish. This should remove any lasting signs of the paint from the finish.
• Wheel wells are difficult to remove traffic paint from since they are not a smooth surface. Liberally apply Vaseline to the area and leave for several days. Pressure washing should remove the paint from the area. Apply a denatured alcohol or rubbing alcohol to the area to help soften any residue left from the Vaseline. Do not scrub the surface. Apply the alcohol using a rag or sponge soaked in the alcohol.

Why Your Patience Matters

Staying behind striping trucks may feel inconvenient, but your cooperation helps:

• Protect highway crews
• Ensures quality, long-lasting road markings
• Keeps your vehicle paint-free

Thank You for Driving Safely

We appreciate your patience and commitment to roadway safety during the striping season. Together, we can maintain safer, clearer roads for everyone.