why are the lines on the road only white or yellow?

Question

and why only red tail lights, or how about the red yellow and green. why not blue orange and pink? i feel like the world could be more intresting if they'd change things up a bit. anyone else out there who's contemplated this too. or do i have too much time on my hands?

Answer 1

lol. I wouldn't say you have too much time on your hands.
I have thought about the tail lights color too. As for the white
and yellow lines its just easier to see at night (I'm guessing).

Answer 2

Actually, the lines are only white or yellow because these are the guideline colors for the Department of Transportation. Yellow is a cautionary color that is more of a suggestion than a law. White is to let you know that it is mandantory. (Not a suggestion or anything that is up for discussion.)
The standard colors are kept to a minimum more out of necessity than anything. If there were any more colors that meant specific things, like on stoplights, it would be worse than it already is with accidents. People are confused easily enough with what we already have, please don't try to throw anything new in the mix! The signs and lights aren't there to be interesting. They are just there to try to make thiings a little bit safer for everybody.

Answer 3

I think you have too much time on your hands. Things like lines and sides which give you safety instructions should be as simple to understand as possible. Otherwise, people would always be goin, "Huh? What does that mean?" They might think the symbols means something other than what it actually does and get confused or distracted, so changing the colors and stuff could cause an increase in auto accidents.

Answer 4

Tail lights are RED because RED is BLOOD and if you don't pay attention, you'll end up BLEEDING.

Road lines are WHITE or YELLOW because they show up best in all weather conditions (except snow).

With a typically BLACK background, you need maximum visibility.

You'd have much less time (assuming you're an ER doctor) if lines were different colors, and headlamps and taillights were unpredictable colors.

Answer 5

The colors are designed to be easily read and understood across the world. Less variety = less confusion.

The white lines mean it's a one way road, while a yellow line means it's a two way road.

Answer 6

It is much safer this way. Yellow seperates traffic in different directions, white seperates two lanes going in the same direction. Red brake lights are to distinguish from white backup lights or parking lights, for obvious safety reasons. The colours of these things need to be internationally recognisable, for obvious safety reasons.

Answer 7

white and yellow give maximum contrast off the road that is usually black.
The lights were chosen as the most socially accepted colors that represent stop and go. Red and yellow were used as stop and caution colors before traffic lights existed.

Answer 8

Sometimes, standards are good things. Imagine if they switched around the colors on traffic lights, just for variety!

Answer 9

the line on the road are only white and yellow because they are reflective.

Answer 10

So that when you are driving you can see them because they are vivid in color, and in the dark your headlights will reflect off of them better so that you can see when you are about to go into the other lain or running off of the road.