RUMBLE STRIP NOISE

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) placed rumble strips near the north end of the Edens Expressway to alert drivers that they were approaching a signalized intersection. The intersection was a high accident location, and previous safety measures were not significantly effective in lowering the number or severity of the accidents. Many complaints about noise were received from adjacent property owners after the strips were placed. When a berm that was placed between the residents and the strips did not reduce the complaints, IDOT requested assistance from the Demonstration Projects Division of FHWA to study berm effectiveness and rumble strip noise. Two types of strip construction were compared, the formed and the cut types. Several different configurations were also analyzed. Outside measurements were taken at three sites, and inside noise measurements were taken from the tractor of a semitrailer unit. Vibration measurements were taken from the steering column of the truck. The results indicated that the formed type of strip provided better driver perception than did the cut type at all speeds tested. Outside noise did not significantly vary with the different types and configurations of the rumble strips. The strips appear to have reduced the number and severity of accidents at the Edens Expressway location.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1984/983/983-005.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=RUMBLE+STRIP+NOISE&author=J.+Higgins&author=W.+Barbel&publication_year=1984
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03611981
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Transportation-Related Noise and Vibration.
• Authors:
  • Higgins, John S
  • Barbel, William
• Publication Date: 1984

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 27-36
• Monograph Title: Issues in transportation noise mitigation: highway and railway studies
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 983
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Berms; Measures of effectiveness; Rumble strips; Safety; Sound level; Steering columns; Tractor trailer combinations; Traffic safety; Trucks; Vibration tests
• Uncontrolled Terms: Effectiveness
• Old TRIS Terms: Vibrational testing
• Subject Areas: Highways; Marine Transportation; Motor Carriers; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00399857
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Feb 28 1986 12:00AM