Drivers are informed of changes in their driving environment through numerous visual warnings by way of traffic signs, signals, and vehicles ahead of them. Transverse Rumble Strips (TRS) are unique as they communicate to drivers’ kinaesthetic (movement) and auditory senses. The TRS design parameters and elements described in this guide incorporate the findings of extensive reviews of research and practices and are based on the operating speed of the roadway and decision sight distances as interpreted from the Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) Geometric Design Guide for Canadian Roads. TRS treatments are used to warn motorists of an imminent change in the driving environment that requires greater driver awareness, such as approaches to stop controlled intersections, signalized and unsignalised intersections and roundabouts, approaches to sharp horizontal curves, and within both rural and urban speed transition zones. TRS as supplementary warning devices can be applied as part of a network level approach and/or a site-specific treatment project. By using Safety Performance Functions (SPFs), agencies will be able to perform network screening to assist in the identification of sites to be further investigated to determine if TRS may be a potential treatment. In the absence of SPFs, an alternative site identification process is offered. If there is an overrepresentation of target collisions (collisions that may be mitigated by treatments such as TRS), the guide provides flowcharts and tables to determine if TRS are warranted at the specific location. In addition, the guide includes summaries of the literature review and the 2004 survey on use and experience with TRS. (Author/publisher).
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