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

  • New bridge over Nile will help landlocked Uganda
    April 3, 2013
    A new River Nile bridge is essential to boost trade and improve traffic in landlocked Uganda. Shem Oirere reports A new bridge across the River Nile at Jinja, to be constructed by Uganda, is promising to boost trade in eastern Africa and pave the way for smooth and safe traffic in and out of this landlocked country. The bridge, also known as the Second Nile Bridge, is the first cable-stayed bridge in the region and will be constructed at Njeru, 80km east of the Ugandan capital Kampala, along the Kampala-Jin
  • Road hazards for winter driving
    March 28, 2018
    With the Northern Hemisphere in winter, it is no surprise that many of the countries in the north are now experiencing cold conditions that can make driving challenging. Driving on roads covered in ice or snow can present serious dangers, particularly for the unwary or for those inexperienced with poor conditions. Too many drivers are unaware that ABS systems can be ineffective in snowy or icy conditions. Old-fashioned driving techniques such as cadence braking are not always taught these days, but are im
  • Highway recycling in the US state of South Carolina
    February 17, 2021
    A highway stretch in the US state of South Carolina has benefited from the use of a recycling train to rebuild the road surface
  • Wirtgen SP 1500 dual paver solves four problems at once
    December 8, 2016
    Four job sites, four contractors, four German states, one paving method: Dual-layer concrete paving with the slipform paver SP 1500 from Wirtgen is on the road to success in Germany. Swayed by the numerous economic and technical advantages, more and more planning engineers are opting for this technology when rehabilitating concrete highways.