Meaning behind little-known roadside marker revealed

Yahoo

04-05-2025

For travellers exploring the country, it's not unusual to come across a road sign or marking that is unfamiliar, especially as different states tend to have their own versions. For one Aussie explorer, it was a roadside marker in Western Australia that left them scratching their head.
Posting a photo to Facebook of a black and white striped reflector pole, the woman said she was travelling the Nullarbor and had seen 'a lot' of the posts but was unsure of their meaning.
The photo attracted all sorts of answers, with someone saying it was a 'zebra crossing', while another joked that it meant 'Collingwood supporters are ahead'.
But the true reason for the unique paint job lies underneath the road.
Posts with diagonal black stripes on a white reflective background are used to signal that a low culvert is nearby, a spokesperson for Main Roads Western Australia confirmed to Yahoo.
'The markers are most often used in remote areas,' the spokesperson said. 'They indicate to drivers… that the ground in the vicinity is lower and uneven, and there may be a significant drop off encountered. Essentially, the markers replace normal white guideposts where there is a low culvert in the vicinity.'
The department added that other states around Australia use blue markers to denote a low culvert, which may be the reason it seemed unfamiliar to the driver.
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Last week, another little-known road marker had drivers wondering about its hidden message. Regular white roadside posts were spotted with green dots installed on them, and while they may not appear important, they can in fact, be a life-saving sign for long-distance travellers.
The green dot road initiative was created several years ago by road safety advocate and truck driver Rod Hannifey, who was routinely trying to find a good spot to pull over because he was tired, but by the time he could spot one, he would be passed it.
Approximately 500 meters from a safe place to pull over, drivers will notice three green dots under the standard red reflector. Getting closer, two green circles will appear on the post indicating the pullover spot is about 250 metres ahead. Finally, one green circle appears just before the rest area.
The markings are not just for truckies either. All motorists are encouraged to look out for the markers as a sign that a safe spot to pull over is just up ahead.
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