LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - A recent study by Safewise ranked Arkansas as the most dangerous state in the nation to drive in during the rain.
One viewer believes it's because the lines on the highways aren't very visible in severe weather.
She wants to know what the state is doing to help drivers navigate more safely on the roadways. 11 Listens went to get answers.
Driving in the rain can be dangerous, especially when there's a heavy downpour. Elvie McKinney described her frustration in an email about driving from Crystal Hill to Kerr Road on I-40 in the rain saying she was a bundle of nerves all the way home.
McKinney claims she could barely see the lines on the roadway. It's a concern, the Arkansas Highway Transportation Department said it's working to address.
“We just doubled the size of our paint truck crew, so we went from 6 trucks to 12 trucks,” said Danny Straessle, spokesperson for AHTD. Straessle said over the last several months, they've had state striping crews in the metro area working on the interstate highways and freeways. "We are now able to refresh the paint on every state highway in Arkansas. That's all 16,400 miles every 2 years at least that's the goal,” said Straessle.
They're also adding a new wider 6-inch stripe, that's more suitable for higher visibility. "It’s also for vehicles that have a lane assist technology that actually reads the paint on the road with a camera system it's easier to do so because of the stripe that's out there," he added.
You'll even notice raised pavement markers, which are road reflectors designed to help drivers travel more safely during inclement weather.
"The raised pavement markers however usually stand up above that coating of water that's on there and those usually help out at times when that paint is not available,” said Straessle.
He said with the refreshed paint, the larger stripe and the raised pavement markers being put down drivers should notice an enhanced difference in the visibility of the pavement at night.
If you have a question or concern about something, send us an email to 11listens@thv11.com.