Assessment of traffic noise due to transverse rumble strips at residential areas

Zaiton, Haron; Darus, Nadirah; Supandi, Mohamad Afif; Yahya, Khairulzan; Nordiana, Mashros; Jahya, Zanariah · 2018 · DOAJ

DOI: 10.1051/matecconf/201825002006

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Summary

This study addresses the environmental impact of transverse rumble strips (TRS) installed on roadways adjacent to residential areas in Malaysia. While TRS are widely used to alert drivers to hazards through sound and vibration, they contribute to traffic noise pollution, causing annoyance to nearby residents. The research aims to assess traffic noise levels generated by different TRS profiles and evaluate the relationships between noise levels, traffic characteristics (volume, speed, composition), and road characteristics (skid resistance). The study specifically compares three common TRS profile types: middle overlapped (MO), middle layer overlapped (MLO), and raised rumbler (RR). The methodology involved field measurements at three sites in Johor, Malaysia, each featuring one of the selected TRS profiles with a uniform thickness of 3mm. Roadside equivalent continuous sound pressure levels ($L_{Aeq}$) were measured using a sound level meter over 15-hour periods (7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.) on weekdays, comparing locations with and without TRS. Traffic characteristics, including volume, speed, and composition, were recorded using automatic traffic counters. Skid resistance values (SRV) were measured using a British pendulum tester under both dry and wet conditions. Statistical analysis, specifically simple linear regression, was employed to determine the strength of relationships between noise levels and the various parameters. The results indicate that all measurement sites exceeded the Malaysian Department of Environment’s permissible noise limit of 55 dBA for residential areas. Among the profiles, MLO produced the highest noise levels, with an increase of 20.5 dBA compared to baseline levels without TRS. This increase was significantly higher (more than 5 dBA) than that observed for MO and RR profiles. Analysis of relationships revealed a strong correlation between roadside noise levels and traffic speed ($R^2=0.99$), with noise decreasing as speed approached 70 km/h. In contrast, the relationship between noise levels and traffic volume was negligible ($R^2=0.12$), and the relationship with skid resistance was weak to medium ($R^2=0.36$). All tested TRS profiles met the Public Works Department’s skid resistance criteria ($\ge$45 SRV). The study concludes that MLO profiles are unsuitable for installation on roadways adjacent to residential areas due to the significant noise increase they generate. The findings highlight that traffic speed is the dominant factor influencing TRS-induced noise, rather than traffic volume or skid resistance. These results provide local authorities with evidence-based guidance for selecting TRS designs that balance safety requirements with acceptable noise levels, thereby reducing noise annoyance for communities living near treated roadways.

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• perceptual countermeasures