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Home > Roadway Departure Safety > Pavement Safety > Rumble Strips and Stripes > Rumble Strips Resources and References

Synthesis of Shoulder Rumble Strip Practices and Policies

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This synthesis provides a review of shoulder rumble strip research and the rumble strips' crash reduction record.  A discussion of shoulder rumble strips as perceived by the motorist and the bicyclist is followed by the presentation of results of three nationwide surveys conducted in 2000 of State DOTs regarding shoulder rumble strips.  A comparison of policies, practices and alternative designs is utilized as the basis for illustrating the components of a bicycle tolerable shoulder rumble strip policy.  Finally, the need for future research is assessed.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0  INTRODUCTION

2.0  LITERATURE REVIEW

• 2.1  Previous Research
• 2.2  Ongoing and Future SRS Research

3.0  SRS DESIGNS.

• 3.1  Milled SRS.
• 3.2  Rolled SRS.
• 3.3  Dimensions and Offset.
• 3.4  Safety Record.

4.0  EFFECT ON DIFFERENT ROADWAY USERS.

• 4.1  The Driver's Experience.
  • 4.1.1  The Driver and Motor Vehicle Auditory Stimulus.
  • 4.1.2  The Driver and Motor Vehicle Vibrational Stimulus.
  
  
• 4.2  The Bicyclist's Experience.
  • 4.2.1  The Bicyclist and Bicycle Auditory and Vibrational Stimulus.
  • 4.2.2  Other Bicyclist's Concerns.

• 4.3  Motorcycles.

• 4.4  Other Vehicles.

5.0  SUMMARY OF SHOULDER WIDTHS AND POTENTIAL SRS PROBLEMS.

6.0  SURVEY OF STATES' POLICIES AND PRACTICES.

• 6.1  Minnesota DOT Survey (February 2000)
• 6.2  FHWA Survey (Spring 2000)
• 6.3  FHWA Survey (September 2000)

7.0  SRS PRACTICES.

• 7.1  Skip Pattern.
• 7.2  Transverse Width of SRS.
• 7.3  Depth of SRS.
• 7.4  SRS Placement.

8.0  SRS POLICY.

• 8.1  Policy Classification.
• 8.2  SRS Installation Warrants.
• 8.3  Recommended Inclusions into any SRS Policy.

9.0  PROPOSED RESEARCH.

• 9.1  High Priority Research.
• 9.2  Medium Priority Research.
• 9.3  Low Priority Research.

Appendix A.

• Decibel Levels.

Appendix B.

• Mn/DOT Survey.
• FHWA Spring Survey.
• FHWA September 2000 Survey.

Appendix C.

• Arizona Rumble Strip Policy.

Appendix D.

• Minnesota Rumble Strip Policy.
• Cited References.

CITED REFERENCES

BIBLIOGRAPHY.

Program Contact

Cathy Satterfield
Cathy.Satterfield@dot.gov
708-283-3552

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