Rumblestrips

Background

Program Goals:

Sonic Nap Alert Pattern (SNAP) is an innovative type of rumblestrip designed to reduce drift-off-road (DOR) accidents

Intent:

Unintentional

Risk Factors Addressed:

Alert drivers who are drowsy, inattentive, careless, or reacting to other events while driving, and who allow their vehicles to drift off the road onto medians or into rails, ditches, or oncoming traffic

Place of occurrence:

Community

Age/Age Range:

Adults

Resources

Year Developed:

1980s

Collaborative Organization(s):

outside contractors were used for implementation

Funding Resource(s):

Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission 

Costs:

Complete installation of SNAP on the entire 815 km PA Turnpike will cost between $2-3 million USD

Implementation

Context/Setting:

Community-based implementation

Strategies Used:

Education, Engineering, Enactment

Activities Used:

Print and television media were used to publicize the innovation;
Positive test results led to implementation on the whole system

Program Evaluation:

Full testing at test sites and actual turnpike sections

Source of Best Practice:

Volpe, R., Lewko, J., & Battra, A. (2002). A Compendium of Effective, Evidence-Based Best Practices in Prevention of Neurotrauma. University of Toronto Press, Toronto.

Original Source:

Wood, N.E. (1994). Shoulder rumble strips: A method to alert ‘drifting’ drivers.       Paper presented at the 73^rd annual meeting of the Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC

Supplementary Material:

N/A

Local Example(s):

N/A

Contact Information: 

John J. Hickey
Research Manager
Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission
PO Box 67676
Harrisburg, PA 17106
Tel: (717) 939-9551 ext. 3620

Outcomes

Long-term outcomes/Effectiveness:

Now used widely on many American interstates and four lane highways

Short-term outcomes:

60% reduction in drift-off-road accidents;
No degradation in the product after extended use

Other Benefits:

Awarded the IBTTA Innovation Award

Other

Date of Review:

2000

Classification:

Best Practice