4.10.6 Rumble Strips

Centerline and shoulder rumble strips are depressed or raised patterns used to provide auditory and tactile sensations that serve as a warning mechanism when vehicles leave their respective travel lane. Transverse or in-lane rumble strips are placed perpendicular to the direction of vehicular travel and are used in very limited circumstances.
The conditions for use of rumble strips are specified in the respective
TxDOT Traffic Standards - RS
. Rumble strips have been shown to be a cost-effective countermeasure for reducing the number and severity of roadway departure crashes. As such, rumble strips have been incorporated into the Safer by Design Tool developed by TxDOT’s Council on System Safety. Additional information on the
Safer by Design Tool webpage
on TxDOT.gov
4.10.6.1 Considerations for Centerline and Shoulder Rumble Strip Placement
For rural high-speed roadways, rumble strips should be installed as part of new construction, reconstruction and overlay projects, unless engineering/safety judgment determine it would be detrimental to do so. Rumble strips are recommended on high-speed urban roadways where significant numbers of crashes by frequency and percentage of total crashes due to motorist inattention have been identified (e.g., opposing direction crashes and run-off-road crashes).
Locations where rumble strips must not be placed include:
  • Shoulder rumble strips across exit or entrance ramps, acceleration and deceleration lanes, crossovers, gore areas, or intersections with other roadways;
  • Depressed rumble strips across bridge decks; and
  • Depressed rumble strips on concrete shoulders that will be used as a permanent travel lane or a travel lane in a work zone in the near future.
4.10.6.2 Bicyclists Considerations
In all installations, appropriate riding space for bicyclists should be considered. It is preferred to allow at least 5-ft (6-ft or more desired) beyond the rumble strips to the edge of the paved shoulder. On facilities known to have considerable bicycle traffic, consider providing occasional gaps to allow bicyclists to traverse in and out of the shoulder safely. See
Chapter 18
for additional guidance on the use of rumble strips with bicycles.