Promoting CenterLine Rumble Strips to Increase Rural, Two-Lane Highway Safety
In the United States, 60 percent of fatal accidents occur on rural roads. Among these, 90 percent occur on two-lane roads, and 20 percent of these accidents involve two vehicles traveling in opposite directions, totaling 4,500 fatal accidents per year. Data from 2007 show 21,433 fatal accidents, or 57.5 percent of the total number of fatal accidents, occurred on undivided two-lane highways. Head-on (HO) and opposite-direction sideswipes (OPP SW) accidents represent 12.5 percent of fatal accidents and 10.3 percent of the total number of accidents. Centerline rumble strips (CLRS) are primarily installed on the centerline of undivided, two lane, two-way highways, and their main purpose is reduction of crossover accidents, specifically head-on and opposite direction sideswipe accidents, which are usually caused by driver inattention and/or drowsiness. Several authors have reported advantages other than reducing accidents in installing CLRS, such as a high benefit-cost ratio, improvement of lateral vehicle position to the right, low interference in passing maneuvers, versatile installation conditions, and public approval. However, some concerns involving CLRS, such as disturbing noise for nearby residents, decreased visibility of the painted strips, faster pavement deterioration, potential driver erratic maneuvers to the left after encountering CLRS, and ice formation in the grooves, have been cited in the current literature. Project Objective The objective of this report is to summarize results of three studies conducted by Kansas State University in 2008 and 2009; addressing some of the above mentioned concerns related to the installations of CLRS. Centerline Rumble Strips do increase the levels of external noise.
- Record URL:
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Corporate Authors:
Kansas Department of Transportation
Eisenhower State Office Building, 2 West
700 SW Harrison Street
Topeka, KS United States 66603-3754 -
Authors:
- Rys, Margaret J
- Karkle, Daniel E
- Vijayakumar, Arun
- Makarla, Rohit
- Russell, Eugene
- Publication Date: 2010-12
Language
- English
Media Info
- Media Type: Web
- Edition: Technical Summary
- Features: Photos;
- Pagination: 2p
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Center lines; Countermeasures; Highway safety; Noise; Rumble strips; Rural highways; Two lane highways; Visibility
- Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I82: Accidents and Transport Infrastructure;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01329750
- Record Type: Publication
- Report/Paper Numbers: K-TRAN: KSU-08-3
- Files: TRIS, STATEDOT
- Created Date: Feb 16 2011 1:42PM