‘Secret’ road sign that could save your life
Most Aussie drivers have no ideas these signs exist but once you know what they mean, they could save your life.
They are on highways across the country but most drivers have no idea what they mean.
If you’ve driven on a long road trip, particularly in the Australian outback in New South Wales, there’s a good chance you might have come across or noticed some unusual green reflectors on roadside poles.
These roadside poles are typically positioned beside the road and feature a red rectangle above one, two or three green circles.
These green reflectors act as a safety measure to show motorists when and where it’s safe to pull over.
It was initially designed for long-haul truck drivers, but the markers can be particularly useful for anyone who needs to stop.
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Here’s how it works:
Three green reflectors: 400 to 500 metres away from a rest stop
Two green reflectors: 250 metres away from a rest stop
One green reflector: at the entrance of the rest stop
While these aren’t official rest areas, Transport for NSW recognises them as key pullover points for drivers driving long distances who may not know the route or are battling fatigue.
Transport for New South Wales states: “Green reflectors mounted on roadside guide posts are used as a simple, cost-effective way of assisting heavy vehicle drivers to more easily identify an appropriate informal heavy vehicle stopping opportunity.”
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The genius idea came from road safety advocate and B double truck driver Rod Hannifey in 1999 after driving home one night in a petrol tanker, exhausted, unable to find somewhere to stop.
The first green reflectors went up in 2000 from Parkes to Peak Hill on the Newell Highway.
Since then, the rollout has been slow despite Queensland, South Australia, New South Wales, and Victorian governments all approving guidelines for their use.
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Mr Hannifey previously told news.com.au he wants the scheme rolled out nationally on all major highways.
“There is a whole lot more to do,” he insists.
“We don’t have enough truck rest areas. The idea was initially meant to be an interim measure but not one of our major national highways meet minimum standards for truck rest areas.”
“Every time they bypass a town, we lose more. We have more trucks and now less rest areas.”
In the past 12 months leading up to September 7, there have been 46 fatal heavy truck crashes in New South Wales. This figure is one less than the previous year.
Overall, NSW has recorded a total of 251 fatal crashes statewide, an increase of 59 compared to the same period last year.
For motorists, these green reflectors could be the difference between pushing on dangerously tired and pulling over safely. It’s a simple and cheap safety measure that can be implemented nationwide.
Originally published as ‘Secret’ road sign that could save your life
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