Pursuant to subclause 3.4(1) of Land Transport Rule: Traffic Control Devices 2004 (“Rule”) and a delegation from the NZ Transport Agency, I, Glenn Bunting, Manager Network Safety, authorise the installation and maintenance of Dragons Teeth road markings:

1. for the purpose described in Schedule 1;
2. in the form and layout set out in Schedule 2;
3. at the locations stated in Schedule 3;
4. for the period specified in Schedule 4; and
5. subject to the conditions and an evaluation outlined in Schedule 5.

Dragons Teeth road markings may be installed for the purpose of evaluating their use and the trial will be called the “Dragons Teeth Road Markings Trial”. The markings have two different uses these being to improve adherence and compliance with the speed limit at the point of speed limit change or to positively influence road user behaviour by raising awareness of changes to the use of the road.

Schedule 1—Purpose of trial

The purpose of the trial is to:

1. enable the installation of dragons teeth road markings;
2. evaluate the effectiveness and safety of dragons teeth road markings in relation to speed limit adherence and changes in road user behaviour through increased awareness;
3. assess drivers’ understanding and response to dragons teeth road markings; and
4. measure drivers’ behaviour where dragons teeth road markings are installed ahead of a change to a lower speed limit and at speed limit threshold treatments in rural or arterial road environments (Group A and B sites) or
5. measure drivers’ behaviour at where dragons teeth road markings are installed at the start of a school zone, local shopping area and/or on approach to a permanent zebra or signalised crossing (Group C sites).

Schedule 2—Form and layout of dragons teeth road markings

The road markings must conform to the following description:

The dragons teeth road markings must be:

1. white reflectorised triangular dragons teeth high performance road markings 750mm wide at the base, which extend into trafficked lane a minimum of 600 mm, but no more than 1000 mm;
2. The base of the dragons teeth road markings shall be placed 100mm from the centreline marking and 100mm from the feature defining the left hand edge of the trafficked lane (kerbline, edgeline etc);
3. Dragons teeth road markings shall be installed as pair of opposed triangles placed at the margins of each traffic lane with each dragons tooth road marking as described in layout Type A, Type B and Type C in this Schedule. Dragons teeth will be separated by a gap of 1500mm from the adjacent marking for layout Type A and layout Type C. For layout Type B dragons teeth will be separated by a minimum gap of 1500mm from the adjacent marking rising in increments of 1000mm to 8500mm for the dragons teeth furthest from the feature being highlighted with the road markings;
4. the treated approach length shall consist of not more than 17 pairs of dragons teeth consisting of 9 pairs of 1000mm triangle markings commencing from the gateway point, threshold point or limit line and 8 pairs of 600mm triangle markings in advance of the 9 pairs of larger markings;
5. the treated length beyond the threshold or gateway shall consist of 17 pairs of dragons teeth made up of 17 pairs of 1000mm triangle markings commencing immediately beyond the gateway or threshold point (Type C layout);
6. Group A and Group C sites shall use layout Type A. Group B sites shall use layout Type B; and
7. Group A and Group B sites may subsequently install layout Type C beyond the threshold gateway feature in addition to original layout type that was installed on the approach side to the threshold gateway feature. This shall only happen after 12 months of monitoring of the original layout is complete.

Examples:

Layout Type A (Standard Approach layout)

Layout Type B (Higher Speed Layout)

Layout Type C (Layout beyond the threshold gateway point)

Dragons Teeth Road Markings

Schedule 3—Location (three sets; group A and B speed limit threshold treatments and group C start of a school zone, local shopping area and/or on approach to a permanent zebra or signalised crossing)

The locations approved for this trial are:

Schedule 4—Period of trial

The trial may begin after the publication of this notice and, unless terminated earlier, must end by 31 December 2021.

Schedule 5—Conditions and evaluation

1. Any evaluation must be undertaken as outlined in the document Dragons Teeth Trial Framework of 10 December 2019 and include:
   1. Measurement of drivers’ compliance with the speed limits, traffic signal control and limit lines before and after the dragons teeth road markings are installed;
   2. Analysis of vehicle speed and volume on the immediate approaches to the trial sites and control sites before and after the dragons teeth road markings are installed. Speed must be measured within 25 metres of the stop limit lines to identify vehicles that are travelling at high speeds just prior to the limit lines. Where practical and relevant speeds should also be measured beyond the gateway or threshold treatment in order to understand compliance with speed limits and behaviour change;
   3. Assessment of drivers’ awareness and understanding of the dragons teeth road markings, including a targeted feedback survey and assessment of any resultant driver behaviour change at the trial sites;
   4. A study of crashes that occur at the trial sites before and after the dragons teeth road markings are installed;
   5. A description of any operational problems with the dragons teeth road markings during the trial and how they were resolved;
   6. Where Layout C has been installed beyond the threshold gateway feature as an addition to the original approach layout monitoring will assess the additional effectiveness of the marking beyond the threshold gateway feature; and
   7. An assessment of cost and benefits of the dragons teeth road markings and any recommendations to improve the markings or their use;
2. Any missing, damaged or malfunctioning markings must be repaired or replaced as soon as possible during the trial.
3. Each road controlling authority is responsible for monitoring traffic at sites within their jurisdiction and contributing to the interim and final reports required in this notice.

An interim evaluation report must be sent to me by 31 August 2020 and a final report by 31 January 2022.

Signed at Wellington this 19th day of December 2019.

GLENN BUNTING, Manager Network Safety, NZ Transport Agency.