[null, {"document_url": "https://www.danielbowen.com/2017/12/04/intersection-markings/", "unformatted_src": "https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4574/37928521765_9459074df8_z.jpg", "src": "https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4574/37928521765_9459074df8_z.jpg", "formatted_filename": "df z", "alt_text": "Intersection near Southland Shopping Centre", "rendered_width": 640, "rendered_height": 346}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.danielbowen.com/2017/12/04/intersection-markings/", "unformatted_src": "https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4545/27038837129_f25629902e_c.jpg", "src": "https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4545/27038837129_f25629902e_c.jpg", "formatted_filename": "f e c", "alt_text": "Mixed intersection markings, Murrumbeena", "rendered_width": 800, "rendered_height": 477}, null]
You may have noticed that some intersection markings, including pedestrian crossings, are changing.

Solid white lines are becoming dashed white lines. Ditto turning lines at intersections. This change brings Victorian practice into line with the Australian standard.

NSW (and probably other states) used to have solid lines too, but sometime in the last few decades have switched to dashed.

The corner of George and Liverpool Street, Sydney viewed from the first floor of the Centrury Hotel in 1980 and in 2017.

[1980- https://t.co/rp6pGC7fZu>2017-@SeaEph /by @SeaEph] pic.twitter.com/7T9nmWAfJR

— Sydney Then and Now (@sydthenandnow) November 26, 2017

Until recently, Victoria was the only jurisdiction to still use solid lines, but started switching in November 2015.

I first noticed them in early 2016:

This might be the first CBD use of the new @VicRoads standard for pedestrian crossing markings. Queen+Collins. pic.twitter.com/yzdmhRjy6K

— Daniel Bowen (@danielbowen) February 8, 2016

This Vicroads page (since removed, but still available via the Web archive) explains it all.

It says they won’t go around and convert them all, but new lines will be in the new style, so it’ll be a gradual transition.

And it says that when they restoring/repainting part of a solid line (or a set of two solid lines), it’s meant to stay solid. I’ve seen numerous locations where this isn’t the case; whoever has done it has left one solid, one dashed line, or lines that are part solid, part dashed. I can see how it’d make sense to move to the national standard.

Other changes over time have been more significant. It used to be that right hand turning vehicles had priority over left turners.

This change will mean the crossing looks different from the stop line. It may prevent confused motorists turning and stopping at intersection exits where they see a red light and (currently) a solid line.

And one might fantasise that somehow possibly it might also improve motorist compliance at pedestrian crossings, to kerb the relentless and unchecked practice of vehicles blocking pedestrians.

Though somehow I doubt it.

12 Replies to “Dash it all! Why intersection markings are changing”





