http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov

Rumble Strip Implementation Fact Sheet

PAVEMENT

INSTALLING RUMBLE STRIPS ON NEW OR EXISTING PAVEMENTS

Center line, edge line, and shoulder rumble strips are extremely effective in reducing severe roadway departure crashes 

at a low cost. Rumble strips use both noise and vibration to alert the driver that he or she is leaving the travel path. There 

are many pavement-related variables that play an important role in the successful implementation of rumble strips, such 

as condition, age, type, thickness, location of longitudinal joints, and the type of milling equipment used for installation.

Pavement Suitability for Rumble Strip Installation

• Rumble strips are typically milled into both new and existing asphalt and Portland cement concrete (PCC) pavements. 

• There appears to be little or no accelerated deterioration from milling rumble strips in asphalt or PCC pavements with 

a condition rating of fair or better. 

• Most States have minimum pavement thickness 

recommendations, but these vary (see the table to 

the right).

• Typically, the thickness of the most recent overlay 

needs to exceed the depth of the rumble strip so that 

previous layers of pavement are not exposed, which 

would allow moisture to infiltrate and potentially 

compromise their integrity.

• Milling rumble strips into micro-surfacing and 

ultra-thin hot-mix asphalt has been accomplished 

without significant delamination. To reduce the chance for delamination, chip seals should be applied after installing 

rumble strips. 

• A number of different materials and designs are used to create raised rumble strips in regions without snow plowing 

operations. Some are affixed to the pavement similar to raised pavement markers while others are encapsulated 

within thermoplastic pavement markings. 

State

Recommended Minimum 

Pavement Thickness

Missouri 1.75”

New York 2.5”

Pennsylvania Less than 1 year old –1.5” 

Older – greater than 2.5”

Texas 2.5”

Washington 3”

Required Pavement Thickness by State for Rumble Strip Installation
Longitudinal Joint

Joints are an inherent weak spot in the pavement, but due to construction practices they are often the ideal location 

for rumble strips. Milling rumble strips into longitudinal joints was a concern expressed by many among the pavement 

community during the early stages of rumble strip implementation. As agencies have experimented with rumble strip 

installations, practitioners have generally found that longitudinal joints in good to fair condition can have rumble strips 

milled into them without accelerating deterioration. 

Although the location of longitudinal joints is not typically a factor in determining whether or not rumble strips should be 

installed, various practices are used by a few States to avoid cutting rumble strips directly into the joint, such as:

• Milling two smaller rumble strips on either side of the center line joint;

• Offsetting the rumble strip to one side or the other of the joint (this is more common for edge line or shoulder rumble 

strips. The most typical lateral offset that States strive for is around 4 inches from the travel way or shoulder joint); or 

• Offsetting the joint during pavement construction or overlay so the center line rumble strip can be placed in the 

center of the roadway.

Installation

Milled rumble strips are installed with a rotary cutting head that can be adjusted for the desired dimensions and spacing. 

There are a few issues to consider at the beginning of construction to ensure a successful installation:

• How will the rumble strip dimensions be measured? This is particularly important in crown sections or where the 

cross slope varies. 

• What is the appropriate location of the rumble strip in relation to the pavement striping?

• How will millings be disposed of? 

Installation of raised rumble strips depends on the product used. The product will determine the dimensions, but the 

proper location in relation to the pavement markings must still be considered. Ensuring proper adhesion to the pavement 

is also critical to the performance. For products that are installed within the pavement marking, spacing and coverage 

should be verified.

Maintenance

Milled rumble strips typically require little to no maintenance. 

Some agencies have used asphalt fog seals where rumble strips 

are milled into joints; however, most States do not perform any 

preventative maintenance treatments on their rumble strips. 

When pavement markings will be placed within the rumble 

strips, the marking material may seal the joint, making the fog 

seal superfluous. In addition, fog seals have proved to be incompatible 

with the thermoplastic material sometimes used for pavement markings. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

The following resources provide more details related to rumble strip use and design:

 FHWA-SA-15-034: Rumble Strip Implementation Guide: Addressing Pavement Issues on Two Lane Roads 

 NCHRP Report 641: Guidance for the Design and Application of Shoulder and Centerline Rumble Strips 

http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/nchrp/nchrp_rpt_641.pdf

 NCHRP Synthesis 339: Center Line Rumble Strip – A Synthesis of Highway Practices 

http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/nchrp/nchrp_syn_339.pdf

 FHWA’s Rumble Strip Website: http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/roadway_dept/pavement/rumble_strips/

Discontinuation of the Use of Fog Seals

Fog seals were commonly used over 

rumble strips in the past, but many States 

have discontinued their use as there have 

been no documented findings that prove 

increased pavement life.

FHWA-SA-15-030

RUMBLE STRIP IMPLEMENTATION FACT SHEET: PAVEMENT