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Rumble Strips: The Sound of Safety

Rumble strip on roadwayRoadway departure fatalities are a serious and often preventable problem.

The Federal Highway Administration reports that 54 percent of all highway fatalities in the U.S. are caused by drivers leaving their lane of travel.

What are rumble strips?

Rumble strips are grooved patterns that make a rumbling sound and physical vibration that immediately warns inattentive drivers that they are leaving their driving lane.

Why use rumble strips?

Rumble strips allow drivers to self-correct and avoid a crash. Our before and after crash analysis found that head-on fatalities were reduced by 40 percent with the installation of centerline rumble strips.

Related Guidance

Traffic Line Manual

Pavement Considerations and Scoping Guidance for the Installation of Centerline Rumble Strips memo

 

Contact the Traffic Standards Unit

4040 Fairview Industrial Drive, MS 5
Salem, Oregon 97302
Phone: 503-986-3568
Fax: 503-986-4063

Program Lead

Phone: 503-428-6874

Resources and Related Content

Roadway Striping

Roadway Departure

Pavement