Drivers are being reminded about a little-known marking on the side of major Aussie roads that could help safe a life as families criss-cross the nation this holiday period.
But if you noticed a relatively small green circle appearing on a roadside reflector pole, would you know what it means? If not, you’re not alone.
“With the holiday period fast approaching, I wanted to remind residents about green reflectors,” federal MP Colin Boyce wrote to constituents this weekend.
Sharing a photo to social media, he explained the meaning behind the simple markings that are certainly easy to miss.
“You may have noticed some green reflectors on guide posts beside the road on some highways. These indicate that there is a safe place to pull off the road coming up soon so you can indicate your intentions early and be prepared,” he said.
Approximately 500 meters from a safe place to pull over, drivers will notice three green dots. Getting closer, two green circles will appear on the post indicating the pull-over spot is about 250 metres ahead. Finally, one green circle appears just before the area.
“The idea is from road safety advocate and B double truck driver Rod Hannifey, alerting drivers that there is a safe place to pull off the road coming up,” the Queensland MP said.
“While the idea was originally intended for long haul truck drivers all road users can use them.”
The number of green circles, or dots, indicate how far away the stop is. Source: Truck Friendly
Aussies praise ‘fantastic’ road idea, highlighting use for caravans and motorhomes
Hundreds of Aussies commented on the post after it was shared on Saturday, overwhelmingly declaring their profuse enthusiasm for the highway initiative. Multiple people pointed out the utility for the growing number of caravan and motorhome drivers on our roads for whom fatigue can be a major factor on long trips.
“A lot more people need to know about this. Especially people with caravans,” one woman commented.
“Would love this all over Australia! There’s nothing worse than driving at night with a screaming baby in the back who wants a feed and not knowing if it’s a safe place to pull over,” another said.
While people praised it as a “great” and “fantastic” idea, it appears many in the region either hadn’t noticed the markings or simply didn’t know what they meant.
“Have asked a few people recently if they knew what these reflectors stood for, and not one knew. Explanation followed. Should be a compulsory question asked of caravaners,” one local wrote.
“One of the world’s best kept secrets! Thanks,” another said.
With caravan sales on the rise, authorities have sounded the alarm this year about the rising number of caravan-related road incidents.
Queensland has seen the second most road fatalities this year, behind NSW. Source: Getty
Despair over state’s rising road death toll
Queensland is set to have it most devastating year for road fatalities as the number of deaths continues to climb heading into the Christmas break.
According to the latest weekly crash report, there have been 278 fatalities as a result of crashes on the state’s roads this year to December 1. That is 24 fatalities (or 9.4 per cent) greater than the same period for the previous year and 30 fatalities (or 12.3 per cent) greater than the previous five year average for the same period, the report notes.
The Bruce Highway, which stretches from Brisbane to Cairns, and where these green markers can be spotted, has been ranked as the worst road in Queensland for being too rough and narrow, lacking overtaking opportunities and having two-lane sections that are too short.
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