Evaluating the Effectiveness of Continuous Shoulder Rumble Strips in Reducing Single-Vehicle Ran-Off-Roadway Crashes in Nevada

Single-vehicle ran-off-roadway crashes are of significant concern in Nevada. This paper summarizes some findings of a research project to evaluate the effectiveness of continuous shoulder rumble strips to reduce such crashes in Nevada. The efforts evaluated safety records on roadways in Nevada on which continuous shoulder rumble strips had been installed. The roadways studied included interstate freeways, U.S. routes, and state routes. Crash data for the period from 1995 to 2003 were used for the analyses. Key data considered in the analyses presented herein include the locations and dates of installation of continuous shoulder rumble strips on roadway segments, crash data, and roadway characteristics. The frequencies and rates of single-vehicle ran-off-roadway crashes were determined for periods before and after the installation of the continuous shoulder rumble strips. Analyses of the data showed that overall the continuous shoulder rumble strips treatment has been effective in reducing the frequency of single vehicle ran-off-roadway crashes and the corresponding crash rates.