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New markings are being painted onto Canberra roads in an effort to prevent drivers from tailgating. Chevrons, or inverted letter Vs, have been marked on sections of the Tuggeranong Parkway to provide a visual cue on safe distances between vehicles. Drivers have been advised to keep at least two chevrons apart in good conditions, and longer distances if there's bad weather. The chevrons have been placed in southbound lanes on the parkway between Hindmarsh Drive and Sulwood Drive and northbound lanes between Cotter Road and Lady Denman Drive. The initiative is part of a trial first flagged by the ACT government in 2017. ACT Road Safety Minister Shane Rattenbury said the trial of the chevrons was expected to see a drop in the number of rear-end crashes on Canberra roads. "Too many Canberrans habitually tailgate, despite the risks of a serious collision on our roads," Mr Rattenbury said. "Sadly we're practically notorious for it." An estimated $40,000 is being spent on the road safety project. The white markings on the road have been used in other jurisdictions in a bid to cut down on tailgating, recently being put on parts of the M1 Pacific Motorway on the NSW mid-north coast as part of a trial. Chevrons have also been placed on the Bruce Highway in Queensland, and have been frequently used on roads overseas, including the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates. Bridget Ahern from the NRMA said the chevrons were an effective way of letting drivers know of safe distances between other cars. "Anything that encourages safe distances are a good thing," Ms Ahern said. "The greater distance you keep, the more time you have to stop if something does go wrong." In 2017 alone, there were 3363 rear-end collisions in the ACT, making up nearly half of all road crashes that year. Rear-end crashes in 2017 resulted in one death and 97 injuries. A report released that year by insurance company AAMI found drivers were more likely to be rear-ended in the ACT compared to anywhere else in Australia. Nose-to-tail crashes made up more than one-third of car accidents in Canberra, according to the report. The fine for tailgating in the ACT is $367 and one demerit point. Ms Ahern said the chevrons had proved effective in Queensland in reducing accidents and tailgating, and that it would prove just as effective in Canberra. "Chevrons are a good way at showing what a three-second gap looks like, because if you're travelling at 100km/h, it takes 92 metres to stop, which is a considerable distance," she said. "Most people say a safe distance is two car lengths, but in reality, a lot longer is needed to stop safely." Mr Rattenbury said the chevrons were just one measure designed to help crack down on tailgating in the capital. "The reality is tailgating causes accidents, and not all of them minor," Mr Rattenbury said. "Putting some distance between you and the car in front can make all the difference when it comes to making our roads safer."

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