Atraffic island is a solid or painted object in a road that channelstraffic. It can also be a narrow strip of island between roads that intersect at anacute angle. If the island usesroad markings only, without raised curbs or other physical obstructions, it is called apainted island or (especially in the UK)ghost island. Traffic islands can be used to reduce the speed of cars driving through,[1] or to provide a central refuge to pedestrians crossing the road.
When traffic islands are longer, they are instead calledtraffic medians, a strip in the middle of aroad, serving the divider function over a much longer distance.[2]
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Some traffic islands may serve asrefuge islands for pedestrians. Traffic islands are often used at partially blind intersections on back-streets to prevent cars from cutting a corner with potentially dangerous results, or to prevent some movements totally, for traffic safety or traffic calming reasons.[3]
In certain areas of the United Kingdom, particularly inThe Midlands, the termisland is often used as a synonym forroundabout.[4]
Media related toTraffic islands at Wikimedia Commons
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