ACT News

ACT to trial chevron road markings to stop tailgating in Canberra

Canberrans are notorious tailgaters so the ACT government is set to try a rather unusual way of stopping its residents from running up the back of one another.

The territory government will trial chevron road markings to illustrate safe following distances to Canberra drivers later this year.

The white markings are used in the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom to encourage drivers to maintain a safe distance from the car in front.

Drivers are instructed to keep two chevrons apart, which is equivalent to a two second gap at a speed of 110 km/h.

Transport Canberra and City Services will find suitable ACT roads to trial the inverted 'v' markings. 

The results will determine whether chevrons markings can be used at other spots to stop tailgating.

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Nose-to-tail bingles are the most common crashes on Canberra roads, accounting for almost one in three prangs, 2016 AAMI crash data showed

The trial was announced as the government released its 2017 report card on road safety on Tuesday. 

Road safety minister Shane Rattenbury said while the ACT still had a lower number of road deaths per capita than the nationwide average, the rate of deaths has been on the rise since 2013.

"I am also especially concerned that we are also seeing a significant increase in road trauma among vulnerable road users, and cyclists and motorcyclists in particular," Mr Rattenbury said.

ACT residents will also have a chance to comment on options to reform the territory's graduated driver licensing model for learner and provisional drivers this year, Mr Rattenbury said. 

Correction: An earlier version of this story referred to Territory and Municipal Services, instead of Transport Canberra and City Services.

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