Developing Optimal Centerline Rumble Strips and Evaluating Their Safety Benefits on National Highways in Hokkaido, Japan

Fatal head-on vehicular collisions are a more serious problem in Hokkaido than elsewhere in Japan, especially on rural two-lane two-way national highways. Such collision can be reduced by installing centerline rumble strips (CLRS), which alert drivers of crossing deviation by sound and vibration. Our goal is to develop an optimal CLRS specification and to evaluate the safety benefits on national highways where CLRS of this specification have been installed. CLRS of various specifications were examined to determine the sound and vibration generated for each specification. These CLRS were also investigated by driving tests on a test track to determine whether they posed a danger to 2-wheel vehicles running on the strips and to survey the subjective danger felt by drivers of 2- and 4-wheel vehicles running on the strips. The optimal size was a longitudinal width of 150 mm, transverse width of 350 mm, and depth of 12 mm. 80 dB of sound was produced inside the vehicle, which is sufficient for warning. To promote CLRS use, we conducted examinations to determine standards for gslim CLRSh 150 mm wide (the width of a yellow single centerline) and 15 mm deep. CLRS entail no maintenance costs, are highly durable, and continue to generate sound and vibration even when thinly covered with snow. Rumble strips have spread quickly and widely. Between 2002 and 2003, they were installed on approx. 40 km of national highway. On those sections, the number of head-on collisions decreased by approx. 55, showing the effectiveness of the strips.

• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Hirasawa, Masayuki
  • Takada, Tetsuya
  • Asano, Motoki
  • Saito, Kazuo
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 85th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2006-1-22 to 2006-1-26
• Date: 2006

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: CD-ROM
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 15p
• Monograph Title: TRB 85th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers CD-ROM

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Center lines; Cost effectiveness; Crashes; Highway safety; Rumble strips; Snow removal; Sound level; Test tracks; Vibration
• Geographic Terms: Japan
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I85: Safety Devices used in Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01024933
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 06-1968
• Files: BTRIS, TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: May 31 2006 7:55AM