Strange circular markings are appearing on Australian roads.
Small circles painted next to the centre-line on winding roads have been popping up around Victoria as part of a quiet road safety initiative set to spread to other states.
The new markings, called perceptual countermeasures (PCM), are short markings on the road encouraging motorcyclists to ride toward the centre of their lane.
The Victorian Government hopes riders will “start wide and finish tight” on winding roads, keeping them clear of oncoming traffic.
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The markings in Victoria are the first step in a nationwide trial which aims to reduce the frequency of dangerous crashes.
Roads that bend around to the right tend to be dangerous for motorcyclists when they are too close to the centre line and end up crossing it with their upper body.
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Bikers not “starting wide” and drifting over the centre line is a common cause of head-on collisions with vehicles and motorcycles on these roads.
They can also help avoid drivers losing control trying to avoid the motorcyclist and causing damage to themselves and others.
Bikers are urged to stay outside of painted circles and start their turn while maintaining a safe distance away from the centre of the road.
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Perceptual countermeasures, or visual clues are similar to chevron markings which also help drivers keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front.
PCM have been used successfully used overseas.
An Austrian trial held in 2019 recorded a huge drop in motorcycle crashes, with some locations falling by as much as 80 per cent.
The Federation of European Motorcyclists’ Associations (FEMA) reported that “the cause of many motorcycle accidents is an incorrectly chosen cornering line.”
“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,” it said.
“Motorcyclists generally avoid riding on road markings, even if they are sufficiently grippy and non-slip.”
The trial is set to leave Victoria as the project has obtained funding and support from transport organisations in NSW, Tasmania and Queensland.
With the long term data from the Victorian study set to be finalised by October 2026, the hope is improvement from the Australian markings are similar to that of the other countries who tried the same PCMs.
If the data shows a safety improvement on the roads, the markings could become much more widespread throughout Victoria and the rest of the country.