Share your feedback on proposed safety improvements
Transport for NSW is proposing to install rumble strips, also known as Audio Tactile Line Marking or ATLM, on the edge lines of the M1 Princes Motorway from Gipps Road at Gwynneville to Weir Street at Kiama Heights.
What you need to know
Rumble strip installation involves placing small raised bumps or milled-in grooves in the road surface along the edges of carriageway.
The purpose of rumble strips is to reduce head-on and run-off-road crashes by producing a noise (audio) and vibration (tactile) warning to drivers that their vehicle is leaving the lane, veering onto the edge of the road. The audio tactile warning gives motorists the opportunity to correct their path.
The rumble strips will be installed offset to the existing line marking so will only produce the audio tactile effect if a vehicle has already left the travel lane, giving the driver an opportunity to fix their steering.
They can help reduce the risk of crashes due to driver inattention, such as fatigue, and is particularly effective at night or during bad weather. This form of line marking is a highly effective road safety treatment known to reduce targeted crashes by 15 to 25 per cent. It follows the Safe Systems approach and is considered an effectual treatment in achieving Towards Zero deaths and serious injuries.
Over the last five years, 15 fatigue related crashes have occurred along the M1 Princes Motorway at this location.
Are rumble strips noisy?
Rumble strips are loud enough to be heard by the driver, but not excessively loud. When rumble strips are installed less than 200 metres from a residential building, assessments are completed to determine any negative potential noise implications for nearby residences and any broader community impacts. In all instances, rumble strips are installed to prevent crashes from occurring and carry significant positive safety benefits.
