A Driving Simulator Study on the Effect of Transversal Rumble Strips Located Nearby Dangerous Curves Under Repeated Exposure

Ariën, Caroline; Brijs, Kris; Ceulemans, Wesley; Vanroelen, Giovanni · 2021 · Crossref

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe100701

archive: archived pipeline: cataloged verified

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Summary

This study investigates the effectiveness of transversal rumble strips (TRS) located on tangents preceding dangerous curves, specifically examining whether their speed-reduction effects persist under repeated exposure. Curves are high-risk locations, with accident rates significantly higher than straight sections, often due to inappropriate speed monitoring and inadequate hazard evaluation. While TRS are known to induce speed reductions through visual, auditory, and tactile feedback, previous research has yielded inconclusive results regarding the durability of these effects over time. This research addresses the gap in understanding how drivers respond to identical perceptual countermeasures across multiple days, aiming to determine if the safety benefits of TRS are sustained or diminished by habituation. The experiment utilized a medium-fidelity driving simulator to replicate two real-world dangerous compound curves from the Belgian road network, selected based on accident data. Sixteen participants completed a 17 km test drive over five consecutive days. The design was within-subjects, featuring four curves: two equipped with TRS and two without, ensuring each participant was repeatedly exposed to the same configuration. The TRS were positioned between 155 and 66 meters before the curve entrance. Data collection focused on mean speed at eight specific analysis points along the tangent and curve. Statistical analysis employed a within-subjects ANOVA to evaluate the impact of marking presence, day of exposure, and location on driving speed. Results indicated that TRS induced a statistically significant speed reduction of 2.3 to 5.9 kph on the tangent immediately before the curves. Crucially, this effect remained stable across all five days of the experiment, with no significant interaction between the presence of markings and the day of exposure. Drivers maintained lower speeds at specific points (166 m and 50 m before the curve entry) when TRS were present, regardless of whether it was the first or last day of testing. Additionally, the presence of TRS led to more consistent speed profiles at the curve entry compared to conditions without strips. The study found that the speed reduction effect did not diminish over the short-term repeated exposure period. The findings suggest that transversal rumble strips have a potential positive impact on traffic safety by encouraging drivers to reduce speed on the approach to dangerous curves. This reduction provides drivers with more time to evaluate curve characteristics and adapt their behavior appropriately. The sustainability of the effect over five days indicates that the novelty effect does not immediately negate the safety benefits of TRS. However, the authors advise policymakers to carefully select locations for TRS implementation to avoid excessive use, ensuring they are applied where they can most effectively mitigate risk. The study confirms that TRS can serve as a durable perceptual countermeasure for improving driver behavior near hazardous curves.

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Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-09; verification: verified.

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• perceptual countermeasures

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• Applied Guidance: countermeasure evaluation