Traffic noise at rumble strips on roads: a pilot study

Rumble strips may be established in the middle of roads in order to improve traffic safety by assisting in preventing vehicle drivers from crossing the centre line without noticing it. The noise/vibration created by such strips warns drivers. However, the noise level outside increases, and may cause annoyance to road neighbours. A pilot study was conducted by the Danish Road Institute to test rumble strips generating low noise levels in the environment. Five types of rumble strips made by milling indentations in the pavement of two-lane roads were tested. Sinusoidal indentations led to only 0.5 - 1 decibel (dB) increase in maximum pass-by noise level while "cylinder-segment" indentations spaced by 0.6 metres gave an increase of 2 - 3 dB in relation to the noise level from pass-bys on the old stone mastic asphalt. With a spacing of 0.33 m "cylinder-segment" indentations gave rise to 3 - 7 dB higher noise levels than sinusoidal indentations and 2 - 5 dB higher levels than "cylinder segment" indentations spaced 0.6 metres. These results are valid for passenger cars, at distances exceeding 25 metres from the road.

• Authors:
  • Kragh, J
  • Andersen, B
• Conference:
  • Transport Research Arena Europe, 2008, Ljubljana, Slovenia
• Publication Date: 2008-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 6p
• Monograph Title: Transport Research Arena Europe 2008, Ljubljana, Slovenia, April 21 to 24

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Environment; Field tests; Medians; Noise control; Rumble strips; Traffic noise; Vibration
• Uncontrolled Terms: Planning and Environment
• Geographic Terms: Denmark
• ATRI Terms: Environment; Field test; Median; Noise control; Rumble strip; Traffic noise; Vibration
• Subject Areas: Environment; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01385262
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ATRI
• Created Date: Aug 22 2012 6:46PM