Distinct circular markings have appeared on roads across Victoria as part of a new state government safety trial designed to protect motorcyclists from collisions with oncoming traffic.
The scheme uses markings known as perceptual countermeasures (PCM) to encourage riders to remain in the middle of their lane while navigating winding stretches of road.
The markings are designed to help riders "start wide and finish tight" as they enter a turn, keeping a safe distance from the centre of the road. Officials urge riders to stay outside the circular paint, with the trial focusing particularly on right-hand curves to prevent collisions with vehicles travelling in the opposite direction.
Speaking to Yahoo News, University of Adelaide road safety scientist Mario Mongiardini said motorcyclists often have a tendency to drift towards or across the dividing line.
"That's obviously not a safe thing to do... The first benefit (of the trial) is that riders will not invade the oncoming direction of travel if they cross the centre line," Mongiardini said.
Warning for drivers and overseas success
In addition to guiding riders, the circular markings serve as a visual warning to all motorists that they are approaching tight corners or areas with low visibility.
Perceptual countermeasures have previously recorded significant success in international trials. A 2019 trial conducted in Austria recorded a substantial reduction in motorcycle accidents, with crash rates dropping by up to 80 per cent at some locations.
According to news.com.au, research by the Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations identified an "incorrectly chosen cornering line" as the cause of a large number of motorcycle fatalities.
"If the upper body extends too far … into the oncoming lane, it is often no longer possible to swerve without causing an accident when oncoming traffic suddenly appears," the organization stated. It added that motorcyclists generally avoid riding directly over road markings, even when the paint is sufficiently grippy and non-slip.
National rollout and Victorian safety trials
The safety initiative is expected to roll out nationally across Australia later this year. Funding has already been secured to launch further trials in New South Wales, Tasmania, and Queensland.
The project is one of several road safety trials underway in Victoria to reduce traffic deaths. During a 2019 trial in the Mornington Peninsula Shire, officials reduced speed limits on 33 roads from 100km/h to 80km/h for two years, resulting in a 68 per cent reduction in serious crashes before the lower limits were made permanent.
Australia has recorded increases in its road toll for five consecutive years. A total of 1,326 Australians died on the roads in the 12 months to July, marking the first five-year streak of rising road fatalities in the country since 1952.
