Polka Dot Innovative Road Safety Measure

• Project typeTrial
• Project scheduleMarch - September 2021

We’re going dotty in Yarraville Village – polka dotty to be precise.

Polka dots are an innovative traffic calming treatment – painted onto the pavement – proven to reduce driver speeds in areas where there is the potential for conflict between vehicles and pedestrians. The trial installation sites are at the:

• Anderson/Ballarat Street intersection (southern end of the new Outdoor Dining pop-up park)
• Canterbury/Ballarat Street intersection (between the old and new pop-up park)
• Bend of Anderson Street with Willis Street intersection

The purpose of the colourful pattern is to attract the driver’s eye encouraging them to slow and approach the space with caution, increasing their awareness of other road users such as the elderly, children, and cyclists.

But – on the back of concerns by some community members – we’re taking additional safety precautions at the trial installation sites.

During the initial phases of the trial we’ve heard concerns by some in the community regarding the safety of child pedestrians and have modified the trial – including installing temporary speed cushions – to address this.

Council will continue to actively monitor each of the locations to measure and evaluate road users’ interactions and implement further modifications to enhance safety as required.

Research overseas has shown motorists drive six to seven kilometres an hour slower when they encounter the colourful painted dots. Our trial is designed to understand if those results can be replicated in Maribyrnong to enhance the safety of all road users.

Road rules have not changed at each of these locations – they encourage all road users to approach shared intersections with caution and an increased awareness of other road users.

How to have your say

As this is the first time the Polka Dot treatment has been used in Victoria, Council is keen to understand how the community thinks they have performed.

Head to Your City Your Voice to provide feedback between March and August 2021