Rumble strips to prevent wrong way driving

Evonik has developed a simple but effective concept to reduce the risk of wrong-way drivers. The company’s cold plastic, one-sided rumble strips have been developed following a string of incidents in Germany in which drivers have travelled in the wrong direction on stretches of high-speed autobahn. The marking system has undergone successful initial tests and the concept has been received well by German police, looking for a system to deal with the problem. There are around 75-80 crashes/ year in Germany
August 19, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
4009 Evonik has developed a simple but effective concept to reduce the risk of wrong-way drivers.

The company’s cold plastic, one-sided rumble strips have been developed following a string of incidents in Germany in which drivers have travelled in the wrong direction on stretches of high-speed autobahn. The marking system has undergone successful initial tests and the concept has been received well by German police, looking for a system to deal with the problem. There are around 75-80 crashes/ year in Germany alone resulting from drivers travelling in the wrong direction on the autobahn network.

The one-sided rumble strips are installed on the road surface within a 100cm wide by 2cm deep recessed groove across the lane. The specially shaped cold plastic coating features an uneven, rough bulge that gives potential wrong-way drivers both an audible and physical warning, alerting them of the hazard.

But drivers who are travelling in the correct direction will hardly notice the rumble strips and perceive them as no more than a slight bump in the road. Final trials are being carried out and the firm hopes to have the system ready for market shortly.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • New software makes road marking applications easier
    February 17, 2012
    Equipment, materials and testing combine to offer motorists better road markings as Patrick Smith reports Drivers realise that clear road markings, particularly in darkness and during the wet, are life-savers, offering guidance and direction. Manufacturers of marking materials, in-road studs, and testing and laying equipment have spent years perfecting solutions to make such markings easier to place; easier to see through the use of a variety of materials, and longer lasting. Sophisticated testing equip
    Read More
  • TISPOL: drink driving continues to be a pan-European concern
    January 18, 2016
    Drink-drive enforcement still has issues in Europe, according to pan-European police body TISPOL Drink-driving is the cause of around 5,000 road deaths in Europe. In the UK alone, it is estimated that 230 (14%) of the country’s 1,713 road deaths are due to drinking and driving. For England, Wales and Northern Ireland the limit for driving is still 80mg (0.8) of alcohol/100ml of blood. Scotland reduced its limit to 50mg (0.5) of alcohol/100ml of blood in December 2014, bringing it into line with most
    Read More
  • Workzone safety protects workforce and drivers
    May 3, 2012
    Highway construction work zones are dangerous places, and anything that can improve safety is welcomed as Patrick Smith reports. The safe and efficient flow of traffic through work zones is a major concern to transportation officials, industry, the public, businesses, and commercial motor carriers. This is the view of the US Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), which has developed the Highway Work Zone Safety Program to reduce the fatalities and injurious crashes in work zones, and to enhance traffic oper
    Read More
  • Wildlife road danger study
    October 12, 2016
    Progress is being made on a study being carried out in North America of the risk to road users from wildlife. The study is being carried out by Leonard Sielecki at the University of Victoria and covers Canada and the US. This investigates the risk to road users posed by animals entering the roadway and considers the benefits of technologies to warn drivers of such risks. According to Sielecki, over 500 people have so far responded, considerably in excess of the number expected. Of these respondents, around
    Read More

Highlighted Content