Rumble Strip Implementation Fact Sheet: Noise

NHTSA · 2015 · ROSA P / United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Safety

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Summary

This fact sheet, published by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in 2015, addresses the challenge of balancing the safety benefits of rumble strips with the nuisance noise they generate for nearby residents and businesses. Rumble strips are identified as a highly effective, low-cost countermeasure for reducing severe roadway departure crashes by using noise and vibration to alert drowsy or distracted drivers. The core problem is that while higher interior noise improves driver alertness, exterior noise can disrupt communities. The document aims to provide strategies for mitigating exterior noise concerns without compromising the safety effectiveness of the strips. The paper outlines specific factors influencing noise levels and provides design and placement solutions. Interior alerting noise increases with higher vehicle speeds, shallower departure angles, decreased strip spacing, and increased strip depth, width, and length. Measurement of this noise utilizes standard sound-level meters, focusing on maximum noise levels rather than averages, as standard methods do not fully capture the unique character of rumble strip noise. To address incidental noise caused by horizontal curvature—where vehicles may cross strips due to cutting corners or off-tracking—the FHWA recommends widening pavement, using spiral transitions, restriping to increase lane width, or increasing the offset of shoulder strips from the edge line. Additionally, the document advises discontinuing strips at intersections and major driveways to avoid noise from turning traffic and suggests creating breaks in passing zones where significant passing is expected near residences. Regarding design flexibility, the fact sheet notes that agencies often adjust rumble strip dimensions to accommodate noise-sensitive areas. Offsetting shoulder rumble strips from the edge line is the primary method for reducing nuisance noise, though this must be balanced against the superior wet nighttime visibility and durability provided by edge line strips. Adjusting strip depth is also cited as a way to reduce loudness, while adjusting spacing is considered experimental. Furthermore, sinusoidal-shaped rumble strips are identified as a new design concept under study to potentially minimize external noise while maximizing internal alerting noise, though effectiveness depends heavily on specific dimensions. The significance of this guidance lies in its emphasis on public outreach and flexible design to ensure the successful implementation of rumble strips. The FHWA highlights that garnering public support is critical, recommending strategies such as inviting public comment, emphasizing safety benefits, understanding specific community concerns, and educating the public on available options. By providing these mitigation strategies and design alternatives, the document supports the broader adoption of rumble strips as a safety countermeasure while addressing quality-of-life concerns for those living along roadways.

Key finding

Agencies can mitigate exterior noise concerns from rumble strips while maintaining safety effectiveness by adjusting design dimensions such as depth, spacing, and offset, and by modifying placement in specific locations like curves and intersections.

Methodology

review

Provenance

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Topics

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• perceptual countermeasures