What do zig-zag road markings mean – and can you be fined for ignoring them?
They might look like someone has had fun with a paint-marking machine, but zig-zag lines have an important purpose on Australian roads.
These squiggly lines are used across the country to alert drivers of upcoming hazards; namely pedestrian crossings where drivers must give way.
There are occasions where zig-zag lines can go unnoticed, or their purpose is not clear to motorists. They can also be used in different ways in different states and territories. So here’s a refresher on what to look out for, and the potential penalties for failing to observe zig-zag road markings in Australia.
What do zig-zag road markings look like and where do drivers encounter them?
Zig-zag road markings are designed to catch your attention. They are white lines painted on the road in a zig-zag pattern and usually span more than 10 metres in length.
It isn’t uncommon to see zig-zag markings on opposite sides of the road on approach to a pedestrian crossing – at least in NSW, Victoria and the Northern Territory.
In South Australia, zig-zag lines are in place as drivers approach school zones – reminding them to slow down, while different triangular road markings known as ‘dragons’ teeth’ are used in other jurisdictions alerting motorists to slow down.
Related: Australian road rules by state
What motorists must and must not do when approaching a crossing
When a motorist sees a zig-zag line, they must prepare to slow or stop their vehicle in anticipation of an upcoming pedestrian crossing.
At the pedestrian crossing (designated in Australia by a series of straight white lines marked in the same direction), motorists must give way to the pedestrians crossing and avoid driving onto the crossing if the road is impeded by pedestrians or traffic ahead of the crossing (i.e. you are not allowed to queue across a crossing).
Additionally, it is illegal to overtake a vehicle that is preparing to stop or is stopped to give way to pedestrians who are crossing the road.
Once the pedestrian has crossed the other side of the road, and the crossing is clear of other pedestrians, motorists may continue forward.
What is the fine for ignoring a zig-zag markings?
Across Australia there are significant fines and penalties in place for drivers who fail to respond to the zig-zag road warning or subsequently don’t give way to pedestrians.
In NSW, offending motorists can be fined $562 and three demerit points if they fail to give way to pedestrians at a crossing – increasing to $704 and four demerit points in an active school zone.
Read more: NSW and ACT school zones
