Have you ever drifted a little too far out of your lane on a highway and felt rumbling accompanied by a loud noise? Or noticed a strange rumbling before a stop sign or speed limit change? You’re probably experiencing the feeling of a rumble strip! These small strips have a big impact when it comes to preventing accidents and promoting safety while driving.
Let’s check out what rumble strips are, why we have them, and if there is any fun to be had with them.
What are rumble strips?
Rumble strips, which are also known as audible delineation, are typically shallow grooves that are engraved into the concrete that offer a vibration and a noise when driven over. Occasionally, they’re raised, reflective bumps, but these are less common. These road safety devices are meant to catch the drivers’ attention if they drift out of their designated lane. They are also in place ahead of some intersections or speed changes, to alert drivers of a change ahead or in the event that you drift off of the road or to warn you of an upcoming intersection or other important rule of the road.
Rumble strips were first introduced in 1952 in New Jersey but did not come to Canada until many years later. They first went by the name “singing safety lanes” and also used reflective paint to increase the attention they garnered from drivers. Rumble strips were not widely used throughout the rest of North America until the late 1990s and early 2000s. In British Columbia, the first rumble strips were implemented in 2004 and today, you can find over 5,100 kilometers of them across the province!
Are there different types of rumble strips?
There are three main types of rumble strips. These include continuous shoulder rumble strips, centre line rumble strips, and transverse rumble strips.
Continuous shoulder rumble strips are seen on the shoulder of highways. These are in place to alert drivers if they drift out of their lane towards the roadway shoulder and off road. Centreline rumble strips are seen on single-lane, undivided highways in order to prevent head-on collisions as a result of drifting across the centre line. Both continuous shoulder and centre line rumble strips are typically a system of grooves in the asphalt.
Transverse rumble strips are used as a feature to warn drivers of the need to stop, change their lane, slow down, or make other adjustments to their driving. These are usually grooves in the road as well, and take up more of the road than a single rumble strip.
Do rumble strips make the roads a safer place?
A thorough examination carried out by UBC and ICBC revealed that the implementation of rumble strips on rural two-lane highways significantly decreased the occurrence of severe collisions. Specifically, the introduction of shoulder rumble strips led to a 22.5% reduction in collisions involving motorists veering off the road to their right. Additionally, the installation of centre line rumble strips on undivided rural highways resulted in a notable 29.3% decrease in both head-on collisions and incidents where drivers drifted off the road to their left.
Can rumble strips make music?
Rumble strips are used as a safety feature, and some areas have even taken the liberty of installing “musical rumble strips” which play a tune as they’re driven over. These are found all over the world, and notably in Japan! You can also find musical rumble strips in California, with a tune that was expected to mimic the William Tell Overture, but due to a miscalculation of spacing required, the tune is not recognizable. One of the most successful sets of musical rumble strips was installed in Alabama, nearby Auburn University. This set plays the Auburn University’s school song, “War Eagle”, and is a favourite fixture for locals and students alike.
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Rumble strips play a crucial role in enhancing road safety, substantially reducing collisions where implemented. Beyond safety, some regions have embraced the creative side of rumble strips, experimenting with musical variations that add a touch of entertainment to the driving experience. Whether you appreciate the safety benefits or enjoy the musical surprises, rumble strips continue to make our roads safer and, in some cases, a bit more melodious!