Grumbling About Rumble Strips Along the PM Highway

[XLFD]

If you've travelled down the PM HWY you may have noticed that they have installed rumble strips along the sides and center line of that road.  Particularly, if you've travelled by bicycle, motorcycle or horse-and-buggy. 

 

I think such rumble strips are excellent ideas for limited access highways/freeways and prevent a lot of ROR (run off the road) accidents most often occurring by drowsy/intoxicated drivers falling asleep at the wheel and distracted drivers, texting or fiddling with other gadgets, maps, or children. 

 

But has there been any such accidents happening on the PM HWY in recent years to warrant such an expense to the already overburdened taxpayer, who are already travelling over rutted roads in many areas of the county?  If not, why install these potentially dangerous features, when studies have shown that they generally only encourage distracted driving in such areas, which may lead to an increase of ROR incidents?

 

Here's what wikipedia acknowledges about these strips, and the safety of some road users:

 

Cycling standards

The Transportation Association of Canada and US FHWA guidelines basically require that a width of 1.5m (5ft) of clear paved shoulder between the outside of the rumble strip and the edge of pavement is adequate to provide cyclists with a clear travel path.

 

However, in situations of parked vehicle on the shoulder, debris on the shoulder, or downhill sections even the 1.5m (5ft) clear path requirement rumble strips presents a significant hazard particularly if the pavement is wet. The argument that rumble strip help protect cyclists is puzzling as inattentive drivers' vehicles generally pass entirely over the rumble strip before recovery.

Other related FHWA guidelines are: "Rumble strips should not normally be used in urban or suburban areas or along roadways where prevailing speeds are less than 80 km/h (50 mph)." and "All responsible agencies should work in cooperation with bicycle groups, enforcement agencies, emergency groups and other roadway users, to develop policies, design standards and implementation techniques that address the safety and operational needs of all roadway users." and "To provide a clear area beyond the rumble strip for bicycle travel, highway maintenance agencies should periodically sweep shoulders along identified bicycle routes of high bicycle usage."

In the United States, the 1999 American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities recommends minimum standards for road shoulders receiving rumble strips to accommodate all users of the roadway and make best use of funds.

 Cycling complaints

Numerous U.S. and Canadian cycling associations have complained about encroachment of rumble strips and one club even launched a lawsuit to have them paved over and an online petition to halt the practice.

 

A 2005 Quebec study concluded: "Based on the results of the analyses, it was not possible to recommend a type of rumble strip that would provide sufficient warning to drivers who encroach on the shoulder while remaining safe for cyclists who ride over it."

 

A 2003 Montana study suggested: "It was also recognized that bicyclists cannot operate on shoulders with rumble strips and it was indicated that shoulders would be swept as needed."

 

Once a section of highway with very narrow paved shoulders is rumble stripped cyclist tend to avoid them, however, sometimes unsuspecting cyclists do have serious accidents.

 

Much bicyclist opposition to rumble strips stems from situations in which no quantitative data is used to justify their installation and installation is not in accordance with the standard. Rumble strips on narrow shoulders force bicyclists into the roadway, where it is less safe to ride.

 

Furthermore, this scenario will force vehicles to make an otherwise unnecessary lane change to go around cyclists and there is a correlation with frequency of lane changes and accidents. "According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 9 percent (533,000) of all accidents occurred when vehicles were changing lanes or merging."   In certain incidents, a vehicle attempting to avoid cyclists (without striking the cyclists) may go off the road or even sideswipe a passing or an oncoming vehicle.

CLRS are a concern for cyclist as well as motorist do not move over towards or cross the centerline to provide sufficient space when passing bicyclist.

 

Rumble strips are very inexpensive to install, so there is concern that some installations are frirvolous. The 2009 economic stimulus infrastructure spending in the U.S. and Canada has raised concerns that many new shoulder rumble strips will be frirvolous as well.

 The Amish

In 2009 in St. Joseph County Michigan, after a lobby by the local Amish community a new $20,000 rumble strip installation was removed at a cost of $275,000 to the taxpayer. "M-DOT says they are not removing the strips just to appease the Amish. They say it is far more dangerous to have horses jumping out into the road that (sic) it is to not have the rumble strips on the road."

__________________________________________________

 

All the bicycle tours that come through Ludington go through the section of PM HWY between Sixth Street and Iris Road.  These have now been made inhospitable to cyclists: for now they have to ride exclusively to either side of the strips.  If they ride on the road, it is much more dangerous to the bikes and the vehicles that will need to pass them by going to the left lane.  If they stay to the outside, parked cars near the bridges and other debris will force them over the strips and into the road. 

 

Motorcyclists will have increased dangers when they pass or travel too close to the road edge, and the Amish are going to be greatly endangered and inconvenienced when they come to town. 

 

I don't see the justification for these rumble strips along the PM HWY or any other local road, but does anyone else see any benefit from them?   

 

 

 

 

 

[masonco]

I know the rumble strips are helpful for those who insist on being distracted or drunk/drugged drivers. Perhaps if there were rumble strips, that little girl who was killed there might still be alive. I've seen and heard several people comment that they did not realize they were straying into oncoming traffic until they hit the center rumble strip. I have a Hubby who tends to daydream and that center strip quickly reminded him he was straying out of his lane.

Another thing is the drunk drivers. If that strip is there, it might avoid the excess weaving that cause head on collisions.

I believe the rumble strips in the center line will save lives and perhaps decrease the number of head on collisions-especially on the rural 2 lane roads. At least the driver will know he/she's in the oncoming lane and maybe will swerve back where they belong before killing more innocent drivers who were in their own lane driving properly.

[XLFD]

I'll check into some statistics on before-and-after rumble strips placement. I agree with you that most of the time the rumble strips will only give you about enough time to say " Oh, Fu...CRASH!", and not even that if you're sleepy or toasted.

[XLFD]

Masonco, you probably refer to the incident where young Marianna Frey lost her life last September near Kinney Road on the PM HWY. The sedan her mother was driving allegedly crossed the center line and struck a motor home.

A rumble strip in the center likely would not have prevented this incident, because it sounds like the mother was temporarily distracted, possibly by one or more of her three passengers, and would have crossed that line only once before the actual crash. As Disarm notes, it was probably too late to prevent it, in this situation.

I can see or be convinced that there may be some possible safety benefit from centerline rumble strips on local roads, but I see nothing but a safety deficit from having them on the sides of local roads.

If some people insist on being distracted or impaired while driving, the rumble strips may save them as they go down the roadway they are on, but studies do seem to conclude that these "accidents waiting to happen" will just happen elsewhere.

[masonco]

I see your point with the rumblestrips along the edge of the road. When you stray onto the shoulder that should be enough DUH whatcha doing?

But I do think the rumblestrip in the center does alert drivers to the fact that they could have been in a disasterous situation if they don't start paying attention to their driving. I see that as a huge safety benefit. We all have experienced the times we drove and became distracted drivers.

My thinking was that if that mother had hit the rumble strip earlier, she might have been able to avoid the death of her daughter. Usually drivers stray towards center of road more than once before a head on occurs.

[XLFD]

Had to throw a couple of pictures into the mix. This one shows the strips between the twin bridges. During the fishing seasons, you will often find a few cars parked in this area, and they devoted that white line visible in the picture to park beyond to prevent accidents. The remaining shoulder is now blocked off for bicycle travel on the shoulder.

Because of this, bicyclists must now hang over the actual roadway to pass these parked vehicles, and any car giving an adequate passing distance (3 ft.) will have to travel over the center rumble strip and back to pass these bicycles. The width of the lane is a little over 8 ft., if you, as a bicyclist, hear those behind you not go over the rumble strip, they will pass mere inches from you.

Don't be surprised if you see the wizened bicycle riders riding out well into the road to 'claim the lane', don't be surprised to see accidents increase on this section because of the strips, and don't be surprised if you see bicycle tours avoiding Ludington and going through Scottville instead-- the nearest place to cross the PM River for a bicycle (or horse-and-buggy).

[XLFD]

The rumble strips also run the length of the big downhill just south beyond Iris Road. This shoulder is notoriously littered with debris after it rains, not to mention roadkill; I routinely can get my bicycle going over 40 mph on my way back into town.

With the rumble strips, there is a lot less real estate to work with, and if I hit one of those at 40 mph on my bike, I will be severely messed up. If I ride on the road, I have one less way to avoid the dangerous drivers. Thank you once again, MCRC.

[masonco]

That drop off is terrible. Is that county or state requiring it? If it is state roads like US 10, then it is a state job not country. Our county guys do it but are paid by the state. (I think)

That drop off would wake up someone quick as they rolled over wouldn't it?

[XLFD]

I think you are correct, Masonco, this is a state initiative affecting county roads and highways. Planned back in 2008 it is part of a 3-year plan apparently.

[Barry]

Rumble strips are only on state highways in this area.If you don't want to deal with rumble strips,don't ride on state highways.They are done by MDOT not MCRC.Also,what drop off are you talking about Masonco?

[XLFD]

The PM HWY is a state highway only between the turnoff from the exit on U.S. 31 to the intersection of U.S. 10 at the Shell station, so you are correct, Barry. This probably explains why they terminate where they do.

The MCRC makes enough bone-headed decisions, I assumed this was their baby-- I was wrong. Just so I get you right, Barry, are you telling bicyclists and Amish folk to detour through Scottville if they don't like to endanger their life on rumble strips?

If there was an alternate way and they conformed to the general guidelines, I wouldn't be putting up such a stink. But I think it's a lot more dangerous to place these roadside rumble strips on this one mile stretch, than to leave them off. Here's another article talking about their inherent dangers and the questionable practice of installing them w/o public support or proper protocol.

[masonco]

I was referring to the picture. It looked like the shoulder was lower than the pavement.

[Sweater Cows!]

holy crap, you go 40 mph on a pedal bike???