Every time we drive, we engage in a complex activity that involves our thinking, physical abilities, vehicle and road conditions. There’s a lot to pay attention to, and sometimes we get distracted.
Timothy Gates, professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Michigan State, leads a team working to improve road infrastructure that gets drivers to notice hazardous conditions. Recently, the team published papers on two studies designed to save lives: a dynamic bridge deck weather warning system and a new design for highway rumble strips.
For the bridge deck warning system (BDWS), the team paired ‘Bridge Ices Before Road’ signs with flashing LEDs or circular beacons connected to weather sensors located at the bridge. Drivers tend to disregard warning signs, flashing lights or roadside messages that are always present, so the BDWS improves on this by activating the flashing lights only when the sensor detects reduced friction on the bridge’s surface.
Bridge decks present a particular concern in cold climates, as the surface typically freezes prior to the adjacent roadway pavement due to the open airflow under the bridge. Drivers often fail to notice icy conditions on the bridge until it’s too late.
Data showed that use of the BDWS resulted in speed reductions approaching the bridge compared to when the lights weren’t flashing during similar winter weather conditions.
The rumble strip study headed by Gates assessed the impact of a new sine wave design on roadside noise levels, driver alert effectiveness and cyclist experience.
The team found that the sinusoidal shoulder rumble strip design was equally effective for alerting highway drivers compared to the traditional design, while reducing roadside noise levels by up to 8.8 decibels, which is beneficial for residents along the highway. However, bicyclists experienced reduced comfort and controllability when traversing them, so the team recommended the rumble strips with the sine wave design be used in noise-sensitive environments where bicycle use is limited.
Both studies help inform state, local and federal agencies on ways to help reduce traffic crashes and resulting in injuries and fatalities.
To learn more about Gates’s work, visit:
- Evaluation of Bridge Deck Winter Weather Warning Systems [Report to Michigan Department of Transportation]
- Engineer warns of winter risks on ‘long, curved bridges’ after Kitchener flyover tragedy [Article]
- Timothy Gates MSU Scholars page [Website]
- Timothy Gates Google Scholar page [Website]
MSU College of Engineering Media and Public Relations page