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SALT LAKE CITY — Driving during a rainstorm or snowstorm can be difficult, especially when double yellow or white lines are hard to see.

Drivers had difficulty seeing lane markings clearly on the westbound side of I-215 Wednesday morning.

“The biggest issue is the factors that cause these markings to deteriorate,” said John Gleason, a spokesman for the Utah Department of Transportation.

“Our construction crews go out every night (in the spring) and paint as many miles of road as they can overnight,” said Vic Saunders, a spokesman for UDOT District 1.

“The first sprayer on the truck is responsible for spraying the stripes,” Sanders explained, “followed by a sprayer on the truck that sprays droplets over the stripes.”

“If we didn’t put the reflective beads in and just painted them, you wouldn’t see anything,” Gleason said. “It’s the reflection off the beads.”

But in addition to rain and snow, winter road salt and dirt accumulate on the road, reducing reflectivity. UDOT is counting on spring rains to wash away that salt and dirt.

“There are a lot of different factors that can disrupt these markers and reduce their effectiveness, and we’re always looking for the latest and greatest technology,” Gleason said.

Sanders noted that while they experimented with different colors and shapes, the beads were a proven technology that had been around for a long time.

UDOT is considering a new, more permanent method: grooves in the markings. Road crews apply paint to grooves they cut into the road. Glass beads in the paint make the markings visible, especially at night.

“It’s more resistant to the wear and tear that comes from everyday vehicles or a snowplow that erases the markings,” Gleason said.

Utah is divided into six road marking districts. Each district has a special crew that works continuously during the warmer months (when temperatures can drop to 50 degrees Fahrenheit). The goal of each district is to mark all roads each year.

“With painting, you can’t just do it and forget it,” Sanders said. “You have to do it over and over again.”

“In these weather conditions, it’s really important for people to slow down and make sure they can see the road ahead,” Gleason said.