Skip to main content

Evonik helps rumble strips prevent wrong-way driving

Each year in Germany, up to 80 accidents are caused by drivers on the wrong side of the road, of which many are on- and off-ramps to a main highway. To prevent this, a pilot test has been devised to alert drivers to their wrong-way direction. Cold plastic, one-sided rumble strips are being installed on the road surface within a 100cm-wide by 2cm-deep recessed groove across the lane. The specially shaped cold plastic coating with an uneven, rough bulge gives drivers a strong tactile and acoustic signal, aler
December 11, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
Each year in Germany, up to 80 accidents are caused by drivers on the wrong side of the road, of which many are on- and off-ramps to a main highway

To prevent this, a pilot test has been devised to alert drivers to their wrong-way direction. Cold plastic, one-sided rumble strips are being installed on the road surface within a 100cm-wide by 2cm-deep recessed groove across the lane.

The specially shaped cold plastic coating with an uneven, rough bulge gives drivers a strong tactile and acoustic signal, alerting them of the hazard situation. But drivers who are driving in the correct direction will notice only a slight bump in the road.

A prototype was tested on the former military airbase in Rothenburg, a town in Germany’s Upper Lusatia region and close to the Polish border.

A 32m-long test route consisting of five strips was set up. For the diagonal markings, a cold plastic material developed from Limboplast, made by 4009 Evonik Industdries, especially for applying to the grooves in the road surface.

Limboplast for rumble strips is based on 1659 Degaroute from 337 Swarco Limburger Lackfabrik, said Jochen Henkels, business director for road marking and flooring at Evonik.

The hard, abrasion-resistant material will also protect the road surface where the rumble strips are applied and the edges formed by the cutting process against premature wear and tear.

A second test track will soon be set up, he said. It takes three to four hours to install the system that will likely cost around €3,500 for each junction.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Krohne Optiwave 6300 C takes the guesswork out of silo measuring
    August 3, 2017
    A variety of issues affect accurate continuous level measurement inside cement plants. The most critical concerns are dust, heavy build-ups, low-reflective media and uneven surfaces in conical and/or air-injected silos with internal objects. Now, new frequency-modulated continuous-wave – FMCW - radar technology, combined with high signal dynamics, offers a way to accurately and reliably measure product levels.
  • Bomag comes in first
    November 23, 2021
    Bomag equipment was essential for constructing the Mandalika circuit, according to R3, the project’s asphalt technical consultant.
  • Lighting can affect road safety
    February 5, 2013
    New research carried out jointly by the Lighting Research Center and Penn State have identified links between visibility and safety from roadway lighting. The results are said to hold promise for predicting the safety benefits of new lighting configurations. Identifying when and where to install roadway illumination is a challenge for transportation agencies. Estimating nighttime crash reductions from roadway lighting is difficult in part because lighting tends to be installed along with other improvements
  • The ABG Advantage: What separates these pavers from the competition?
    September 25, 2024
    There are a great many roadbuilding products out there. Sometimes it can be hard to separate the best from the rest.