The Virginia Transportation Research Council released a report that studied the effectiveness of zig-zag pavement markings painted on streets to increase motorist awareness of upcoming bicycle and pedestrian trails. The study found that the markings installed in advance of bike/ped crossings made motorists more aware of their surroundings through a reduction in mean vehicle speed in the marked areas and survey responses that indicated an increase in awareness. The study recommends that the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) recommend to the Federal Highway Administration that this traffic calming technique be included in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).