¿dragon teeth? Well yes. And they mean something important: "slow down your speed."

In road safety, the introduction of new signs is the response to the continuous need to adapt to the social reality in terms of traffic, and is essential to improve the safety of all of us. lThe General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) aims to achieve zero fatalities in traffic accidents by 2050, through the implementation of road safety measures, education, advanced technology and infrastructure improvements.

Today we talk to you about five signs that DGT is implementing precisely with this objective:

dragon teeth

This epic name of «dragon teethn» refers to a type of horizontal signage that consists of a series of triangles painted on the edge of the road. These triangles point towards drivers and create an optical effect that makes the road appear narrower. This sign indicates that you must reduce your speed significantly, to reduce the risk of accidents in areas where pedestrians and cyclists are frequent. Reducing speed in critical areas is essential to prevent accidents.

Zigzag of white lines on the bands

He zigzag of white lines is another innovation in horizontal signage. Like the previous dragon's teeth pattern, this pattern is painted on the sides of the road and serves to indicate to drivers that they are entering an area where they must exercise extreme caution (pedestrian crossings, intersections...). The zigzag design creates a perception of movement that alerts drivers and tells them to reduce speed.

 Central red line parallel to solid line

This signage combines a central red line parallel to the solid white line. The addition of the red line clearly indicates the restriction on overtaking in that specific section, such as on dangerous curves or high-speed areas. The use of the red line visually reinforces the absolute prohibition of overtaking in dangerous areas, with the aim of avoiding serious accidents and head-on collisions.

Green line on both sides

The horizontal traffic signal of two green lines on the bands is an innovation that was successfully applied a few years ago, and is designed to alert drivers to the presence of a section radar. Speed cameras are devices that measure the average speed of a vehicle between two points, rather than capturing the speed at a single point. The two green lines painted on the side of the road serve as a visual warning to drivers, indicating that they are entering an area controlled by a section radar.

Waves on the asphalt with school zone signage

The signaling of waves on the asphalt is a visual strategy to alert drivers of the proximity of a school zone. These waves are painted directly on the road and are accompanied by vertical signs indicating the presence of a school, and a maximum speed limit of 20 km/h. The combination of visual cues and wave design creates a deceleration effect, which seeks to significantly increase the safety of children in school zones and thus reduce the risk of accidents.

With our sights set on 2030 and 2050,  and the strategy to reduce fatalities to zero, all these innovations have a clear purpose on the part of the DGT: to reduce speed, prevent accidents and protect the most vulnerable road users. 

Stay informed and drive safely, always attentive to new signs that ensure your well-being and that of others.