Audio line marking to improve road safety on Pacific Highway

A $3.5 million project will install audio tactile line marking on the Pacific Highway in a bid to prevent crashes.

Rumble strips stretching 300 kilometres will be laid across 96 kilometres of road between Harwood and Tweed Heads.

The work is part of the Saving Lives Accelerated Program with Transport for NSW and is expected to be finished in time for the Christmas school holidays.

Transport for NSW partnerships and integration north executive director Greg Collins said the strips reduce the risk of head-on and run-off road crashes.

The strips consist of raised ribs placed along the centre, edge or lane lines and send an audio alert if a vehicle starts to veer out of its lane.

The ribs create both an audible rumble and a tactile vibration when a vehicle’s tyres pass over them.

“If a vehicle leaves its lane where audio marking is installed, whether through fatigue, distraction or inattention, the rumble strips make a noise to immediately alert the driver to take corrective action to avoid a serious accident,” Collins said.

“This makes them particularly effective at night or in bad weather and can reduce the number of crashes by 15 to 25 per cent, saving lives and preventing injuries.

“This work on the Pacific Highway is just one part of the $46 million Saving Lives Accelerated Program, with work underway and upcoming across the state.”

Crews will be working on the sections of the highway from 6am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday.

Some work may be carried out at night between 8pm and 4am, with the project due to be finished by December 19.

Lane closures and a reduced speed limit of 40km/h will be in place during the work.