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What's With Those Little Dots on the Road?

Watch out for the dots! Er, the bumps? The lane markers? What are those things even called anyway?

They’re called Botts’ dots!

Botts’ dots are supplemental lane markers to better delineate lane separations when visibility declines. Bright white or yellow, they’re designed to alert drivers when they’re drifting or making lane changes. Run one over and you’ll know: Botts’ dots provide both a thump and a bump that can be heard and felt by the vehicle’s operator.

The dots are named for the California Department of Transportation researcher whose efforts brought them into existence: transportation engineer Elbert Botts. In the mid twentieth century, Botts and other engineers began exploring more effective ways to mark road and highway lanes, since painted lines become less visible during nighttime and adverse weather conditions.

The result was these ubiquitous polyester bumps that dot roadways nationwide (and sometimes serve to wake us up a bit while driving). Depending on which state you’re in, they may be referred to as “turtles” or “buttons”—or just as “those dot thingies.”

Unfortunately—or fortunately, depending on your car’s handling—Botts’ dots may be slowly phased out in the future. Due to the danger and cost of upkeep and replacement, as well as a concerted effort to make roads autonomous vehicle-friendly, some states have begun exploring thicker, texturized versions of painted lines that serve the purpose of the dot but don’t require the occasional replacement. (They’re also useless in areas with high snowfall, since snowplows tend to dislodge them with ease.)

Regardless, the Botts’ dot has served a noble purpose in making our roads safer for the better part of a century. We salute you, Botts’ dot!

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