If you’re on duty in the West of Queensland you might find something just a bit unusual next time you roll into one of the region’s towns.
No, the big red road markings that are appearing across Queensland towns are not to welcome trucks, coaches, and tourists alike (in other words, they aren’t rolling out the red carpet for you), they are a new road safety initiative.
And, potentially a bit of a cash saver for Councils and the Queensland Government too.
Officially known as Town Entry Treatments (TETS), Transport and Main Roads Queensland tells us the red sections of the road are “being installed across 17 towns and localities” in the west of the state.
Adding that the paint job plays “a crucial role in signaling motorists to decelerate”.
“These visual cues are designed to enhance driver awareness and contribute to ensuring road safety within our rural communities,” the department said.
“We urge all motorists to remain vigilant when encountering red road surfaces and adhere to the speed limit signs in place.”
The safety initiative is funded by two separate projects, one fully funded by the Queensland Government under the Targeted Road Safety Program and another funded by the Federal Government.
That sounds like a good idea, and you can probably estimate that painting the road is a less expensive alternative to installing signs.
Our only concern…isn’t a painted surface generally more slippery than a bare stretch of asphalt?
We’ll keep you updated on further development on the TETS program.
