The installation of rumble strips (yellow speed breaker lines) every 100 meters on the Ahmedabad-Vadodara Expressway has begun, starting from Nadiad. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) claims this innovative measure will help reduce accidents.
Drivers often overtake from the emergency lane (third lane) on the expressway, causing accidents. To reduce such incidents, rumble strips are being installed every 100 meters on the highway towards Vadodara. NHAI claims that these strips will force drivers who enter the emergency lane to slow down. Due to the repeated obstruction caused by the rumble strips, drivers won’t be able to maintain high speeds for more than a few meters, which should help reduce accidents.
An NHAI representative told the media that the installation work is being carried out on the 93-kilometer stretch of the Ahmedabad-Vadodara Expressway. The project began from Nadiad, and work is ongoing. Approximately 40 to 50 kilometers of work has been completed on the stretch from Nadiad to Anand.
The representative further explained that the rumble strips are being installed at 100-meter intervals, with six strips in each set. This is being done as a trial since it was recently added to NHAI’s guidelines. The effects of this new measure will become clearer through observation. The primary reason for installing the rumble strips is to prevent drivers from overtaking from the wrong side, i.e., the left lane. The vibration caused by the strips will make drivers aware and discourage them from driving in the emergency lane. The entire project is expected to take about two to three months to complete.
The representative concluded by stating that efforts are being made to reduce accidents, but the public must also follow traffic rules. If people understand this, the need for such measures may not arise.