Effectiveness of Temporary Portable Rumble Strips on Work Zones

Details

• Creators:
  Macfarlane, Gregory S. ; Schultz, Grant G. ; Carruth, Tyler ; Hailstone, Benjamin
• Corporate Creators:
  Brigham Young University. Department of Civil and Construction Engineering
• Corporate Contributors:
  Utah. Department of Transportation. Research and Innovation Division ; United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Crash Avoidance Systems Data Collection Driving Behavior Evaluation Rumble Strips Temporary Barriers Temporary Portable Rumble Strips Work Zone Safety
• Publication/ Report Number:
  UT-26.04
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States ; Utah
• Edition:
  Final Report: Oct 2024 to Apr 2026
• Corporate Publisher:
  Utah. Dept. of Transportation. Division of Research
• Abstract:
  This study evaluates the effectiveness and operational implications of Temporary Portable Rumble Strips (TPRS) used by the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) to alert drivers to upcoming work zones. While TPRS are intended to capture driver attention and reduce crash risk, concerns remain regarding their influence on driver behavior, avoidance maneuvers, and maintenance requirements. A field experiment was conducted at four work zones in Utah during the Summer 2025 construction season. Four deployment conditions—no TPRS and three spacing configurations—were tested. Data collection included speed measurements using mobile radar detectors and video-based observations of vehicle classification, braking behavior, avoidance maneuvers, and TPRS displacement. Results indicate that the effect of TPRS on speed reduction is inconclusive. Drivers who braked in response to TPRS typically did so before reaching the devices, suggesting that visual cues may be as influential as tactile feedback. Avoidance behavior was common among motorcycles and occurred occasionally among other vehicles. Driver responses were more strongly influenced by site-specific factors—such as roadway geometry and sight distance—than by TPRS spacing. TPRS displacement occurred gradually under traffic but was not clearly related to traffic volume or speed, suggesting that device age and condition play a larger role. Maintenance requires traffic gaps of approximately 34 seconds, which may not be feasible at higher-volume sites. These findings highlight the need for further evaluation of TPRS effectiveness, standards for device condition, consideration of alternative measures for long-term work zones, and increased contractor discretion based on site conditions.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  25-8411
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:30fd71ef2896ef1b8d32e4cc0aa1479fe99211c1d4e359f51ba422c28207873301fb5b556f3236e8ef8d0a719995be408941848f9676b49682af7ddd6ce0864f
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/91241/dot_91241_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.31 MB ]