Zig-zag lines are being painted intentionally in Virginia in an effort to get drivers to slow down. The 500 feet of Belmont Ridge Road, where it intersects with the Washington and Old Dominion trail in Loudoun County, is a high pedestrian traffic and bicycle traffic area.

Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) Mike Salmon said:

“It is a low cost strategy to get motorists to slow down as they approach the bike trail and pedestrian path. While at first motorists may be a little disoriented, the main point is to get them to pay attention and slow down through that area.”

Apparently similar programs have been successful in the U.K. and Australia. VDOT will study the effect of the zig-zagging lines for a year to see if they actually reduce speeds.