A council in Tasmania is facing widespread criticism for spending over $52,500 of taxpayer money on road safety markings that some residents and local officials deem ineffective and a squandered opportunity. The blue wave-like markings, applied to several locations along Beach Road in Kingston Beach, south of Hobart, were part of a federally funded project aimed at enhancing pedestrian crossing and intersection safety.
First installed in December of the previous year, the markings were created using OmniGrip, a high-friction surface treatment made from recycled glass. However, the cost and perceived lack of benefit have drawn sharp criticism.
Will Perry, a candidate for councillor and deputy mayor of Kingborough, publicly denounced the expenditure. He stated that the funds, designated for pedestrian safety, were instead used for what he described as mere decoration. Perry argued that the money could have been invested in more proven safety measures, such as vehicle-activated speed signage or improved crossing infrastructure. He noted that the "blue wave wastage" is a common topic of discussion among residents, who feel it represents a missed opportunity to significantly improve safety for children and families.
Perry further claimed that the markings have not contributed positively to safety. He cited instances of vehicles losing wing mirrors when parked near the markings and near misses involving children and parents. He believes that proven road safety solutions could have been implemented instead of the decorative markings.
Some online commenters have echoed these sentiments, suggesting that speed bumps would have been a more effective solution and that the new markings have actually made the area more dangerous. A particular concern is the proximity of some markings to the Kingston Beach Early Learning Centre.
Despite the backlash, Kingborough Council maintains that the markings have improved public safety by highlighting busy areas and encouraging drivers to reduce speed. A council spokesperson told Yahoo News that similar blue wave markings have been successfully implemented in other parts of Australia, including Victoria, and that research supports their use.
"[The markings are a] recognised road safety treatment designed to influence how drivers perceive the road environment," the spokesperson said. "Research has shown that changing the visual appearance of the road can influence driver behaviour, encouraging motorists to slow down and drive more cautiously."
The council cited a study by the Monash University Accident Research Centre for the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, which found that visual road treatments, including perceptual countermeasures, were effective in reducing travel speeds. The council also stated that the measures were supported by residents prior to installation, with 83 percent of survey respondents favoring the use of perceptual countermeasures.
