February 18, 2007 -- It's something that's never been tried on Texas freeways.

"The concept behind it is sort of an optical illusion. It slows; it makes it feel like you're going faster than you really are," said Jorge Ojeda, project engineer with the Texas Department of Transportation.

They're called Chevron markers, referring to the Chevron oil company's logo, and they make you think you're driving faster than you really are.

"Their spacing gets closer as you travel down the lane, and that's what makes you feel like you're going faster when you really aren't," said Ojeda.

There have been several high-profile accidents on the U.S. 54/I-10 west ramp, including two tractor-trailers that rolled over in the past two years. It was considered the perfect spot to try the markers.

"It's just common knowledge in the department that this is a dangerous ramp because of the high speeds in which vehicles approach. And this is just an effort for us to keep, to try and get the traffic to slow down and be safe traveling that ramp," said Ojeda.

Some drivers applaud the idea and the project.

"Everyone needs to slow down anyway. There are too many accidents happening right now," said Eugene Mason of Northeast El Paso.

The Texas Transportation Institute will study the effectiveness of the markings over the next few months, and a report is expected at the end of August.