Red paint - Pointless?

[gbfish]

on a road where there is a central area between carraigeways, usually with hatches through it to show that it is not to be driven on, often found where there are numerous traffic islands on a road, why do councils seem to think they need to paint thearea red or green? surely this is a massive waste of time money and resources and an inconvenience to the public?! is there a reason for painting a piece of road that isnt used?

[Toureman]

It's a psychological trick by local authorities which usually works on numpty drivers who are to scared to go near it.

If the hatch marks are surrounded by a solid lines it is illegal to go on the hatching, if there are no solid lines enclosing the hatching you can go on them but if there is an accident you could be held to blame.