Back in April 2009, VDOT added zigzag markings to Sterling Boulevard and Belmont Ridge Road where these roads meet the W&OD Trail. Since then they've studied how these lines have changed driver behavior.
White zigzag lines jumping from one side of the road to another in Sterling are having a positive impact on speeding, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation
"Before the study, we thought the zigzag pavement markings would have an immediate impact on motorist awareness, but over time would lessen," Lance E. Dougald, research scientist at the Virginia Center for Transportation Innovation and Research, says in a statement. "It was interesting to see that 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," he says.
VDOT touts the program as a low-cost way to improve road safety.
The department says the zigzags will stay on the roads for a number of years, and if similar programs are successful in other parts of the country, the project could be expanded.
That's excellent. (tip: antibozo)
Update: More at Dr. Gridlock, including a link to the report.
These seemed to work fairly well when I first saw them further out west on the W&OD. I was in that area a couple weeks ago, and alas, it seemed that the drivers I saw had become used to them and were driving as ridiculously fast through the crossings as they used to.
Posted by: Blue-eyed Devil | January 26, 2011 at 01:55 PM
Don't the bicyclists have a stop sign? I don't see a stop sign for the drivers or a slow sign. Typically, the bicyclists do not stop at STOP signs. They are the ones who do not obey the traffic laws.
Posted by: Rich | February 01, 2011 at 10:15 PM
@Rich: That's what the crosswalk is for.
Whether or not the cyclists have a stop sign, the crosswalk indicates that traffic is required to stop for crossing cyclists and pedestrians.
Posted by: Ron Alford | February 01, 2011 at 10:46 PM
To add to what Ron said, in the State of Virginia a stop sign is a traffic control that applies only to operators of vehicles on a roadway. A bike path or a crosswalk is not a roadway and a cyclist operating there is not considered a vehicle operator.
If VDOT wants motorists to have right of way they should remove the crosswalk markings.
Posted by: contrarian | February 01, 2011 at 11:05 PM