What are rumble strips?
Rumble strips are grooved patterns rolled or milled into the pavement perpendicular to the direction of travel. They can be installed on the centerline of the roadway or on the roadway shoulder. The driver of a vehicle passing over a rumble strip hears an audible warning (rumbling sound) and feels a vibration. These physical and audible warnings alert the drowsy, distracted or impaired driver, thus reducing the chance for a crash. Milled-in rumble strips ground into the pavement are preferred over rolled-in rumble strips. Rolled-in rumble strips were previously used in Alaska throughout the 1990’s. A study by the Virginia highway department showed milled-in rumble strips produce a vibration level 12 times greater than rolled strips. Inside the vehicle the sound volume from radio and conversation can diminish some of the audible benefits of rumble strips, but most drivers can’t miss the physical effect of the vibrations to the car. Milled-in rumble strips have been demonstrated to be th
Related Questions
- Rumble Strips are not addressed in the proposal and plans. Is it the Departments intent that mainline and other shoulders have rolled-in rumble strips?
- Does the guidance recommend shoulder rumble strips only where a clear 4-foot surface is provided beyond the rumble strip?
- For new highways, is the recommendation to place both shoulder and centerline rumble strips?
