City Hall has introduced zigzag road markings ahead of pedestrian crossings to better alert motorists of the need to slow down when approaching the crossings and make the roads safer.
The new markings have been put in place for trial use on Dinso Road and roads around the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration office (Sao Ching Cha, or the Giant Swing), as well as the busy Asoke Montri Road, where accidents at zebra crossings are common. After the trial they will be used on other roads later, said Suthon Arnakul, director of the BMA’s traffic engineering division.
The zigzag lines are painted 15 metres before each zebra crossing. They will be used along with other pavement markings and signs to warn motorists to slow down and prepare to stop or comply with a traffic signal to ensure safety for people crossing city roads.
Mr Suthon said the zigzag markings are regarded as a “traffic calming” device, and a lane painted with the design can make motorists feel a street is becoming narrower and will draw their attention to the need to slow down.
Traffic calming is a combination of mainly physical measures that reduce the stress reaction of motor vehicle use, alter driver behaviour and improve conditions for non-motorised street users, according to The Institute of Transportation Engineers.
