Drivers warned as little-known road markings could be rolled out across Australia
As authorities continue to grapple with the concerning rate of people dying and getting seriously injured in collisions on Aussie roads, the tough approach by many state governments is leaving many drivers "fed up" with the constant threats of hefty fines and loss of demerit points.
However drastic action needs to be taken to achieve the ambitious goal of achieving zero deaths and serious injuries by 2050. As high-tech mobile and seatbelt detection cameras reach saturation point — with motorists in one city set to be confronted by nine cameras in one 25km stretch of freeways — authorities are now looking at alternative approaches.
One innovative trial being run by scientists in Adelaide has seen a new type of road marking intended to quickly grab the attention of drivers and alert them to a change up ahead without the threat of a fine or loss of demerit points.
Known as 'dragon's teeth', the three-dimensional road markings are meant to "increase driver attention and create a sense of warning," leading road safety scientist at the University of Adelaide Mario Mongiardini told Yahoo News. If successful, the markings could be seen across the country, because they can be implemented "cheaply and quickly" by authorities.
Made of thermoplastic, the road markings are easy for councils and road authorities to implement and are designed to be durable and offer friction and grip for cyclists and motorcyclists.
Inspiration for the road markings came from Singapore, where a similar design is used to warn drivers of a change in the speed limit in the city centre. "They noticed drivers started to become much more compliant," Mario explained. "So that is one source of inspiration."
Adelaide is not the only place they exist in Australia, with RAA Senior Traffic Engineer Matt Vertudaches, explaining "similar markings, without the 3D effect are used at school zones in other states such as NSW, where they indicate to drivers that there is an elevated risk and lower speeds may be more appropriate."
Dr Chris Stokes, another researcher at the University of Adelaide explained that reducing speed limits as a safety measure is a relatively new phenomenon.
"Ten to 15 years ago, you didn't see these sorts of pedestrian areas where authorities would reduce the speed limit, especially on main roads," he said. "Now we have reduced speed limits for these pedestrian precincts."
It means that drivers aren't always aware of the change, despite road markings.
"Sometimes they are not that clear, the purpose of the treatment is to make it more clear to the driver where they are leaving one type of area and entering another type of area."
Both researchers warned that the markings must be part of a multifaceted approach to road safety, with this specific road treatment thought to only work effectively if they're used sparingly.
"You can't expect to have them around every corner, if that happens, people will quickly lose trust in the system," he explained. "They are not to be used where the environment speaks for itself."
The markings are supposed to be used as a "complimentary" tactic, to work in tandem with reduced speed limits and changing the texture of roads too.
"Hopefully if it's successful you may see them in some areas of Australia," Mario said, but "don't expect to see them all over the road, only where they are needed."
In Australia, around 1,200 people are killed each year on our roads and about 40,000 are seriously injured. Despite lofty goals to reduce that number, the numbers don't appear to be budging.
"Speed is the key factor in 99 per cent of crashes," Chris said. "The faster you hit an object, the harder the impact is going to be."
The researchers will begin collecting data next week before rolling out the markings at two more sites across Adelaide. If the trial proves to be "effective at mitigating travel speed", Aussies could see it on a road near them soon.
"We know we need to try something new, what we have now is not going to be enough to achieve this ambitious goal to reach zero deaths by 2050."
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