How simple painted bars on Durham Roads help reduce speeding

If you’re traveling around Durham, you may start noticing horizontal white lines painted in the middle of your lane. So, what are they for, and how do they work?

These lines are known as optical bars, and they give drivers the perception they are going too fast or speeding up. Essentially, the space between the markings reduces over the length of the area where the lines are painted, giving the illusion of increased travel speed, which encourages motorists to slow down as the spacing narrows.

This simple but effective road safety initiative is part of the Durham Vision Zero Strategic Road Safety Action Plan that aims to reduce and ultimately eliminate injuries and fatalities on our roadways.

Learn more about how we’re making Durham Roads safer at durham.ca/VisionZero.