Final answer:
Flexible pavements are marked at least 12 inches into the good pavement to ensure proper alignment and visibility of road markings for traffic control and driver safety.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reason flexible pavements are marked at least 12 inches into the good pavement is to indicate the proper alignment of the road. These markings are called pavement markings or thermoplastic markings. They are made using hot thermoplastic materials that are applied to the pavement surface. By marking into the good pavement, it ensures that the road markings are clearly visible to drivers and help in guiding traffic safely.
These pavement markings play an important role in traffic control. They provide information to drivers about lane divisions, turn lanes, and where to stop. These markings are also used to indicate pedestrian crossings or parking lanes. Therefore, marking at least 12 inches into the good pavement ensures that the markings are durable and easily visible for the convenience and safety of drivers and pedestrians.