Abstract
The deterioration of pavement markings reduces visibility and compromises road safety by diminishing lane guidance accuracy, particularly under adverse weather and traffic conditions. This scoping review examined the factors influencing pavement marking durability, retro-reflectivity degradation, and maintenance effectiveness across different climatic and operational contexts. Structured searches were conducted in Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Transportation Research Record, and Google Scholar for studies published between 2015 and 2025, including relevant grey literature. Fourteen empirical studies met the inclusion criteria and were synthesised through thematic analysis. The findings indicate that material type, bead quality, traffic load, and environmental exposure are dominant determinants of retro-reflectivity loss. Cold plastic markings tend to retain approximately 19% higher retro-reflectivity than thermoplastic, while premium glass beads extend service life by around 50%. High-traffic lanes experienced up to a 91% reduction in retro-reflectivity, whereas rainfall temporarily improved visibility but accelerated long-term wear. Protective coatings and vehicle-mounted retro reflectometers improved monitoring precision and long-term durability. The review concludes that performance-based material selection, adaptive maintenance strategies, and sustainability-oriented procurement can significantly enhance marking longevity and cost efficiency. Future research should focus on predictive maintenance models, integration of computer vision technologies, and long-term field monitoring to support data-driven frameworks that strengthen both safety and environmental performance.