The research documented in this report was conducted as part of the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Evaluation of Low-Cost Safety Improvements Pooled Fund Study (ELCSI-PFS). FHWA established this PFS in 2005 to conduct research on the effectiveness of the safety improvements identified by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program Report 500 guides as part of the implementation of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Strategic Highway Safety Plan. The ELCSI-PFS studies provide a crash modification factor and benefit–cost (B/C) economic analysis for each of the targeted safety strategies identified as priorities by the pooled fund member States.
 

This study evaluated application of edge-line rumble stripes (ELRSs) on rural two-lane horizontal curves. ELRSs are a variation of common shoulder rumble strips used to alert drowsy or distracted drivers when they are leaving the travel lane to the right. ELRSs are installed with the edge-line pavement marking placed directly over the rumble strip. Data were obtained at treated rural two-lane horizontal curves in Kentucky and Ohio. The results for Kentucky indicate statistically significant reductions for total, injury, run-off-road (ROR), and nighttime crashes. The results for Ohio indicate statistically significant reductions for all crash types (i.e., total, injury, ROR, nighttime, and nighttime ROR). The B/C analysis results suggest that this treatment can be highly cost-effective. This report is intended for State departments of transportation, transportation agencies, academics, researchers, and other practitioners.