Below is an e-mail I received back from FDOT in response to comments made by me concerning rumble strips. I got their permission to share the response with GCC and Team VetMed members. Obviously, the position I took in my original e-mail is that rumble strips, at least the kind on US 441 south of Gainesville are a hazard to cyclists. After receiving this response I further replied about the type used on US 441 and she told me that she was sending that concern to the District Engineer.

 

Mike Steinberg

 

 

Michael Steinberg

2233 NW 41 Street

Gainesville, Florida 32606

 

Dear Mr. Steinberg:

 

Thank you for your email of August 2, 2010 concerning the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) policy on rumble strips.  Our current policy came out of an emphasis area within the “Florida Strategic Highway Safety Plan”.  This emphasis area seeks to reduce serious injuries and fatalities associated with vehicles leaving the travel lanes on limited access and rural two-lane roadways.

 

Lane departure crashes represent 46 percent of all crashes in Florida and 40 percent of all crashes on the State Highway System (SHS).  Lane departure crashes account for approximately 1,275 fatalities and 7,710 serious injuries per year on the SHS.  A disproportionate number of the fatalities and serious injuries occur on rural uncontrolled access roadways.  Research shows that lane departure crashes are primarily random events, crash frequencies naturally fluctuate over time at any given site.  The randomness of crash occurrence indicates that short-term crash frequencies alone are not a reliable estimator of long-term crash frequency.  For this reason, a systemic approach was taken on the installation of rumble strips in lieu of an as-needed approach. 

 

The FDOT initiated an evaluation of rumble strips in April 2007.  The evaluation included literature research, crash analysis, installation of various types of rumble strips on a test roadway and coordination throughout the FDOT.  Although 24 states were using ground-in shoulder rumble strips on two-lane rural roadways; the FDOT chose to use the edge line pavement marking as an alternative method which leaves the full shoulder available for cyclists.  Edge line rumble strips also have the additional benefit of providing a warning that a vehicle has left the travel lane which may prevent a crash involving a pedestrian, a bicyclist, or highway worker on the shoulder.  The FDOT also chose to use the raised method for creating rumble strips rather than ground-in method because they are more bicycle compatible.  All of the products used to form the raised rumble strips have been tested by recreational and experienced cyclists to determine their impact on cyclists.  The FDOT’s rumble strips are in compliance with the USDOT and FHWA Technical Advisory T 5040.35 (http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/roadway_dept/policy_guide/t504035.cfm).

 

Our current rumble strip policy is, “Audible and vibratory markings shall be installed on all flush shoulder rural projects with a posted speed of 50 mph or greater.  The markings shall be installed on the outside edge lines for all two-lane and multi-lane undivided rural roadways; and on the inside and outside edge lines all multi-lane divided rural roadways.”  This policy was implemented on all new resurfacing projects and on safety funded pavement marking projects in January 2009.  We are continually reviewing the implementation of this policy and specifications of the audible and vibratory marking products to increase safety for both motorists and cyclists and welcome your comments.

 

Brian Blanchard, P.E.

Chief Engineer

 

 

Cindy C. Ikerd

Administrative Assistant

Chief Engineer's Office

Phone: (850) 414-5241

Fax: (850) 412-8090

Email:  cindy.ikerd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

Note:  All emails are subject to public records requests.