3D dragon’s teeth road markings spotted: Find out what these are for

As the new school year starts, local authorities are ramping up efforts to ensure the safety of our children and the wider community. With the roads bustling with activity, drivers must be vigilant and adhere to the rules, especially in school zones.

But this year, there’s a new player on the scene that’s turning heads and causing quite a stir: the introduction of 3-dimensional road markings, also known as ‘dragon’s teeth.’

The National Roads and Motorists’ Association (NRMA) has recently issued a reminder to drivers in New South Wales, emphasising that school zone rules are in effect for the next four weekdays, even though students would not return to classrooms until 6 February.

This early reminder serves as a precaution to get drivers back into the habit of slowing down in these critical areas.

Meanwhile, in South Australia, the Department of Infrastructure and Transport has issued a notice about a novel set of 3D road markings being trialled.

These markings are part of a study by The University of Adelaide’s Centre for Automotive Safety Research, which aims to create a visual illusion that captures drivers’ attention and encourages them to slow down, thereby enhancing road safety in areas bustling with pedestrians.

‘They are designed to grab motorists’ attention and signal a transition into a low-speed zone (40 km/h. By creating a visual cue, the markings are designed to encourage drivers to slow down, promoting safety in busy pedestrian areas,’ explained an authority online.

However, the announcement was met with mixed reactions from the public. Some question the need for such measures, suggesting that simply painting the speed limit on the road would suffice.

‘I can tell you the ones on Magill Road have not done anything to slow drivers down at all. I live not even 30 metres from where the stat of these road markings are, and they are just an eyesore more than anything. Even the police don’t slow down to 40,’ claimed someone else.

Meanwhile, others found it ‘great’ and ‘brilliant.’

‘They are great! It definitely grabbed my attention while driving in Henley probably putting the number as well will help,’ wrote one commenter on SA Infrastructure and Transport’s post.

‘I love colour and can’t believe we haven’t been using guides like this for years! Nice one. It’s gonna take a bit of getting used to [though],’ said another.

These dragon’s teeth markings are not new to the country, though. In New South Wales, these markings are a common sight, particularly in school zones, where they serve as a visual reminder of the 40 km/h speed limit.

Victoria is also seeing an increase in the use of dragon teeth, especially in areas where there’s a pressing need to encourage motorists to decelerate, such as near schools or potential hazards.

The push for these innovative safety measures comes on the heels of a sobering statistic: 2024 was the deadliest year on Australian roads since 2012. According to research by the federal Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (BITRE), 1,300 people lost their lives in road accidents in 2024 from 1,258 in 2023.

This marks a significant increase and reflects a four-year trend of rising road fatalities, a phenomenon not seen since before the mandatory introduction of seatbelts in the 1960s. Alarmingly, 359 people died in the three months leading up to the end of December last year alone.

The road toll for 2024 was 18.5 per cent higher than in 2021, the year a 10-year plan was launched with the ambitious goal of halving road deaths. These figures are a stark reminder of the importance of road safety initiatives and the need for continuous innovation and public awareness.

As we navigate these changes, it’s essential to stay informed and adapt to new safety measures. The 3D road markings are just one example of how authorities are striving to protect lives.

Whether you’re a driver, pedestrian, or cyclist, understanding and adhering to these new visual cues can make a significant difference in reducing accidents and saving lives.

We invite you to share your thoughts and experiences with these new road safety measures. Have you encountered the ‘3D’ dragon’s teeth markings in your area? Do you think they are effective in encouraging drivers to slow down? Join the conversation in the comments below.

Also read: Is it safe to walk or cycle? Australia’s road toll soars to 12-year high!

Floralyn Teodoro
Floralyn Teodoro
Floralyn covers different topics such as health, lifestyle, and home improvement, among many others. She is also passionate about travel and mindful living.

1 COMMENT

  1. So something’s not working. Over the past decades the cars have got safer with active driver assistance, there’s been a nation wide rollout of more and more fixed offence recording cameras with increases in Fines and yet the road toll has gone up.
    Is it more single vehicle crashes? These are rarely accidents (you know what I mean).
    Excessive speed may be a factor, but why are drivers doing it?
    In Queensland we have had too many crashes where the driver has been under-age and unlicensed (and known to the Police). There also seems to be quite few where the driver has already had their License suspended for offences including DUI of alcohol or illegal drugs.
    Recently in SE Qld we had a fatal from a headon collision on a section of divided carriageway where it appears that one driver last control of their vehicle and crossed a sizeable median zone to impact a completely innocent traveller. Hopefully there will be more revealed when they wrong way driver will be in Court on charges of causing the death of the occupant of the other vehicle.
    It would be interesting to see more information on the common factors, if any, in those tragic events.

LEAVE A REPLY

- Our Partners -

DON'T MISS

- Advertisment -
- Advertisment -