A mysterious — and misplaced — yellow line painted along a busy Florida highway has puzzled motorists — and confused cars with driver-assistance technology as state officials rush to wash up the issue.
The yellow line inadvertently spilled on the southbound side of Interstate 95 in Jacksonville first caught the eye of drivers Friday, First Coast News reported.
The line randomly spans about 23 miles, leaving drivers in a clumsy spot.
“At first, I saw it come on and I got over into the opposite lane because I believed it was merging me somewhere, then I used to be like, ‘It’s in the center of the lane,’” a driver told the station over the weekend.
A WJXT news reporter and his cameraman even drove on the affected a part of the highway to detail how head-scratching it was.
“It’s a little bit bit confusing. If I didn’t already know what this was after we left, I’d be a little bit apprehensive,” the cameraman said as he drove the station’s truck.
Cars meant to assist drivers navigate the road safely also appeared to have issues.
The Florida Department of Transportation advised drivers behind the wheel of vehicles equipped with lane departure detection, blind spot assist and smart cruise control to contact their manufacturer for guidance.
“And never rely solely on these features for protected driving,” the DOT warned in a press release.
Several motorists with self-driving cars and lane departure vehicles contacted First Coast News in regards to the impact the yellow line was having on their rides.
When the news outlet drove through the affected highway in a 2024 Subaru Crosstrek, the lane departure assist beeped seven times and even took control of the wheel once to self-correct.
The lane assist stopped acting up after the Subaru reached a faded a part of the line, the outlet reported.
“Drivers are at all times those which might be responsible after they’re on the roadway,” a DOT spokesperson told First Coast News.
“Presently, we would like people to remember. Drive with each hands on the wheel throughout all the corridor.”
No reported crashes have happened resulting from the yellow line.
Sunshine State transportation officials will start removing the ill-placed paint job Tuesday night into early Wednesday and again on Wednesday night.
It’s unknown who or what was the reason for the initial botched paint job.
While the state DOT didn’t directly point blame, officials noted that Acme Barricades, a neighborhood highway safety and traffic control company, agreed to have their crews help remove the paint.
“FDOT Staff is working with Acme Barricades to resolve the situation,” the department said in a press release.
“Taxpayers aren’t expected to pay for the paint spill removal.”