AN EXPERIMENTAL COMPARISON OF PAINT STRIPES AND RUMBLE STRIPS AT A LOW VOLUME RURAL INTERSECTION

This experimental field study compares the effectiveness of transverse paint stripes, such as developed by the TRRL, and similarly placed rumble strips, in inducing drivers to reduce speed and stop at intersections. The experiment was conducted on the two minor approaches to the same four-way rural, low volume intersection. A geometrically converging pattern of 38 paint stripes, each 60cm wide, was laid out over a distance of 270m of one leg, and a similar pattern of rumble strips, 12-15mm high, was laid on the opposite leg. A before-after and a cross-over (after a year) experimental design was used. Speeds were monitored at 8 points on each leg along 420m leading to the intersection for a total of over 2500 lead vehicles. The main results and conclusions are as follows: paint stripes have only minor influence on driver behaviour; rumble strips lowered speeds by an average of 40%; both treatments had a small positive effect on compliance rate; with no pavement treatment, deceleration began at 150m and peaked within the last 60m; with rumble strips, most of the deceleration took place prior to the vehicle passing the first strip, followed by an additional deceleration within the last 60m. Deceleration became uniform and moderate; rumble strip effects remained stable after a year; a 150m treatment of 12mm strips is long enough to produce the positive effects of rumble strips. A simpler pattern of fewer strips should also be sufficient. For the covering abstract of the seminar see TRIS 450556. (TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/086050137X
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Proceedings of Seminar L, Traffic Operation and Management; Held at the 12th PTRC Summer Annual Meeting, University of Warwick, England, From 10-13 July 1984, Volume P, 254.
• Corporate Authors:

  PTRC Education and Research Services Limited

  110 Strand
  London WC2,   England 
• Authors:
  • Zaidel, D
  • HAKKERT, S
  • BARKAN, R
• Conference:
  • Planning & Transport Res & Comp, Sum Ann Mtg, Proc
• Publication Date: 1984

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 41-54

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Before and after studies; Behavior; Conferences; Deceleration; Drivers; Economic efficiency; Four leg intersections; Intersections; Low volume roads; Measures of effectiveness; Paint; Road markings; Rumble strips; Rural areas; Rural highways; Speed; Striping
• Uncontrolled Terms: Decreases; Effectiveness; Efficiency; Transverse
• Old TRIS Terms: Four way intersections; Traffic marking
• ITRD Terms: 9001: Behaviour; 8525: Conference; 5416: Deceleration; 9009: Decrease; 1772: Driver; 5911: Efficiency; 455: Junction; 3807: Paint; 2849: Rumble strip; 328: Rural area; 5408: Speed; 9081: Transverse
• Subject Areas: Economics; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00450562
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• ISBN: 086050-137-X
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 27 2004 9:56PM