Report: Strange lines help at trail crossings
As a bit of a companion to last week's post about trail/road intersections, here's some new information: In Virginia, a test of lines on the road -- some a bit bizarre -- at trail intersections appears to be a success.
From the Rails to Trails conservancy:
"Before the study, we thought the zig-zag pavement markings would have an immediate impact on motorist awareness, but over time would lessen," researcher Lance E. Dougald said in a statement. "The markings actually had a sustained positive impact on speed reduction even after the markings had been in place for one year. One possible explanation for this is that markings installed within the roadway, especially unique markings, are more visible than signage and are less likely to blend into the roadside environment."
I know some British cities have experimented with this in the past. While I'm curious about whether the shock value of the lines will wear off in the long term, I'm happy to see that this idea has made its way to the states.
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