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FHWA Home / Safety / Roadway Departure / Mitigating Noise

Rumble Strips and Rumble Stripes

Long Description: Figure 5. Center Line, Shoulder, and Edge Line Rumble Strips and Stripes Dimension Terminology

Three diagrams combined into one depict, from left to right, the placement of center-line rumble strips, shoulder rumble strips, and edge line rumble stripes. The diagrams are not to scale. Each diagram depicts a two-lane roadway divided by a double yellow centerline and with white edge lines to the right of each travel lane. there is a Shoulder to the right of each edge line in each direction.

The diagram for centerline rumble strips includes a blowup of the centerline application, with measured distance A indicating the offset, measured distance B indicating the length of the strip (measure is perpendicular to the centerline), measured distance C indicates the width of the strip (measure is parallel to the centerline). Measured distance D is the vertical depth of the strip, and measured distance E is the spacing from centerline of one rumble strip to the next (measured as parallel to the centerline).

The diagram for shoulder rumble strips includes a blowup of the shoulder and edge line application, with measured distance A indicating the offset (the distance between the outer edge of the edge line and the edge of the rumble strip closest to the travel lane), measured distance B indicating the length of the strip (measure is perpendicular to the edge line), measured distance C indicates the width of the strip (measure is parallel to the edge line). Measured distance D is the vertical depth of the strip, and measured distance E is the spacing from centerline of one rumble strip to the next (measured as parallel to the centerline).

The diagram for edge line rumble stripes includes a blowup of the shoulder and application of the rumble stripes on the edge line. Because the stripe is on the edge line, there is no offset. Measured distance B is the length of the strip (measure is across the edge line on the perpendicular), and measured distance C indicates the width of the strip (measure runs along the edge line in the direction of travel). Measured distance D is the vertical depth of the strip, and measured distance E is the spacing from centerline of one rumble strip to the next (measured as parallel to the centerline).


Return to Figure 5.

Page last modified on September 9, 2015
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