If you have spotted odd circular markings painted through a country corner lately, you are not imagining it. They are called perceptual countermeasures (PCM), and they are part of a national road safety trial, not a prank or a resurfacing quirk.
How the circles work
The markings sit on either side of the lane and are designed to subtly change how a driver or rider perceives the bend, nudging them to slow down and hold a safer line away from the centre. The project is led by the Centre for Automotive Safety Research with Commonwealth funding, and treated sites are running in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania. Each treated corner is paired with a similar untreated control corner so researchers can isolate the effect. The idea has form: a 2023 Austroads study found similar markings sharply cut the share of riders hugging the centre line at the apex.
Cartell Assessment
We like this. It is cheap, passive and it works on the driver's brain rather than nagging through a screen or a beeper. No sensors, no subscriptions, just paint that reads the way a good corner should.
AU Outlook
The markings went down in February 2026, a 12-month study runs from October, and the final report is due early 2027. If the numbers hold, expect the circles to spread to more high-risk routes.
