ZigZag Lines in Loudoun County to Reduce Accidents

Ben Glass

Attorney
(866) 735-1102 Ext 320

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No, your eyes are not playing tricks on you – the road really does have zigzag lines painted on it. Loudon County drivers may come across wiggly white lines on both sides of the road. So what exactly is going on here?

The zigzag lines are part of an experiment in the rapidly growing county that hopes to see the chances of accidents and personal injuries be reduced. The purpose of the experiment is to slow motorists approaching busy crosswalks and bicycle crossings in hopes of increasing pedestrian safety.

The oddly striped lines, whose purpose is to cause drivers to slow or brake reflexively, stretch 500 feet in each direction of the crossing. The lines were painted by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) near spots where well-traversed hiking and biking trails cross roads with heavy and/or fast-moving traffic.

The “lightning bolt” lines have seen mixed reviews so far. Critics have said that the lines only seem to confuse drivers, who are uncertain of what to do. They also say that the lines may not be enough to change habits drivers have already developed.

However, some cyclists and motorists have praised the lines and believe they will slow drivers and make them pay more attention. Speed meters have also been installed at these crosswalks by VDOT in order to monitor motorist speed, which should help prove or disprove the lines’ effectiveness.

According to Virginiadot.org, the lines will be a cost effective alternative for the improvement of safety in areas trying to cope with a rapid transition from a rural county to an outer suburb of Washington, D.C. If the experiment is successful, drivers should expect to see more zigzag markings throughout the area.

The idea originated with city planners in Europe and Australia, who have utilized zigzag lines to effectively adjust traffic patterns.

The experiment in Loudoun is expected to run for about a year.