Community Forums

CamJam1 · 08-09-2019, 11:30 AM

When did the trend start of moving rumble strips from the center of the shoulder to edge of the driving lane? Whoever made this decision obviously did not drive a truck. I fail to see how forcing traffic to the center can be safer, especially on two-lane roads. In the era of texting and other driver distractions this just seems foolish. The margin of error is diminished even more, and all it takes is one fool in the opposite lane to drift over a few inches and the results can be disastrous.

BonS · 08-09-2019, 11:38 AM

In many states the rumble strips are well outside of the white line lane marker. In Missouri they're placed exactly inline with the white line.

I don't mind touching off on them from time to time, but my DW swears that I said that they're bad on the tires. Sheesh, I never said that. So, that's how it goes as we drive the highways! Did I mention that I like traveling alone?

MSHappyCampers · 08-09-2019, 11:40 AM

I think that in some cases it depends on how wide the shoulder pavement extends. I know that's not always the case, as I've seen the rumble strip right at the outer edge of the white stripe, even though there are several feet of pavement beyond that!

Old-Biscuit · 08-09-2019, 11:51 AM

Running over 'rumble strips' ....then you are not staying in your lane

Rumble strips are intedned to notify drivers they have drifted out of their lane
Rumble strips next to drive lane alert drivers sooner vs long after they have drifted

Most lanes are 12' wide...some narrower but majority are 12'

NXR · 08-09-2019, 12:22 PM

I'd rather have the extra warning myself. We were following a flatbed that was all over the place and the rumble strips were in the middle between the white line and a ditch, about 8' of total pavement. Every time that driver hit it he pulled left but he was already half off the road. There's usually a lot more debris off to the side so that's another consideration.

Ray

96 Wideglide · 08-09-2019, 01:06 PM

I've followed trucks that spent more time on the rumble strips than off!

I feel about a foot past the white line is about right, even if there is 10' of paved shoulder.

MSHappyCampers · 08-09-2019, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 96 Wideglide

I've followed trucks that spent more time on the rumble strips than off!

I feel about a foot past the white line is about right, even if there is 10' of paved shoulder.

X2! Totally agree!

johninsd · 08-09-2019, 01:24 PM

Having the rumble strips in the middle of the shoulder really makes bicycle travel unpleasant and in some cases unsafe. I rode coast to coast a few times and there were a few roads where the rumble strips took up the entire width of the shoulder. This left cyclists a choice, either share the 12 foot lane with the motor vehicles or ride in the gravel outside the shoulder. Most choose to ride in the lane. If a 12 foot lane isn't wide enough for a motor vehicle (at most 8'6" wide unless oversize (in which case a permit is required)) perhaps the driver needs some remedial training.

LETMGROW · 08-09-2019, 02:22 PM

One has to wonder how many injuries or lives have been saved by having these strips on our highways. With the number of distracted, inattentive, sleepy and plain stupid drivers on today's roads I'm sure the strips have been effective.
If you don't like the noise and vibration when you drive on these strips stay off them.
Lynn

twogypsies · 08-09-2019, 02:43 PM

I don't think states would go to the trouble and expense to put them there if they didn't help.

**CLIFFTALL** · 08-09-2019, 02:47 PM

I’ve always been pleased to drive on roads that have them. Admittedly I’ve drifted over on them but told DW I was testing them [emoji1]

Spk64 · 08-09-2019, 02:48 PM

Rumble strips are great! I can use them to wake up everyone so they will talk to me.

richard5933 · 08-09-2019, 02:53 PM

We were involved in a head-on collision a few years ago when an oncoming driver fell asleep behind the wheel of his Honda which then slammed into the front of our coach.

He slowly crossed the center line for about 100 yards. Had there been rumble strips in the center of the road, he'd still be alive.

I know that the OP mentioned the rumble strips on the shoulder of the road, but around here we often see them in the center marking as well on 2-lane roads, especially those with 55+ speed limits.

I'm all for putting as many of these things out there as possible. I want people to get a heads up the second they veer from their lane.

Another situation where the shoulder rumble strips were a blessing was last year when we got stuck on the freeway coming through Illinois when the conditions suddenly went from 50+ degrees to blizzard-like with near zero visibility. It was too dangerous to stop due to the traffic moving along in spite of the conditions, and it was near impossible to see the road. The rumble strip allowed us to limp forward to the next off-ramp at about 10 mph, literally driving by braille by keeping the right tires on the rumble strip to make sure I didn't leave the roadway.

Like I said, the more rumbles the better in my book.

CamJam1 · 08-09-2019, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LETMGROW

One has to wonder how many injuries or lives have been saved by having these strips on our highways. With the number of distracted, inattentive, sleepy and plain stupid drivers on today's roads I'm sure the strips have been effective.
If you don't like the noise and vibration when you drive on these strips stay off them.
Lynn

Gee, thanks for your advice, Lynn. I never thought of that (sarcasm). Seriously, I don't know many people who make a habit of purposely driving on the rumble strips, but having them right on the white line is annoying as hell when you're driving a big rig on a bumpy road in a cross wind, besides which I like to give myself some extra distance between myself and opposing traffic in case some inattentive fool drifts over the line. I have had three such close calls in my 50 years of driving (none of them my fault) and I don't care to have any others.

I agree that at least a foot off the white line is much better, and there's nothing wrong with them being in the center of the road. In fact, I wish they'd do more of that on busy two-lanes.

My problem is not with the rumble strips per se, it's that in some states in recent years they put them too close to the white line on the right.