Ohio House approves centerline rumble strip mandate

A measure halfway through the Ohio Legislature would mandate centerline rumble strips on certain roadways. More than half of all states use the safety feature.

In 2018, state Rep. Tim Ginter, R-Salem, said there were 1,385 reported collisions on Ohio’s undivided and state routes due to a vehicle crossing the center line. There were 78 fatalities.

The Federal Highway Administration has provided figures that show centerline rumble strips reduce fatal and injury crashes by 38 % to 50 % on rural two-lane roads, and by 37% to 91% on urban two-lane roads.

The House voted unanimously advance a bill to require the Ohio Department of Transportation to install centerline rumble strips on two-lane state highways posted with speeds exceeding 45 mph.

Ginter’s bill, HB51, specifies three conditions that would require rumble strips to be added along affected roadways. The strips would be included during construction of a new highway, during major repair work, or during resurfacing work.

According to the Ohio Legislative Service Commission, installation of strips along all two-lane highways would cost ODOT from $700 to $1,025 per mile.

Revenue to do the work would come from the state’s Highway Operating Fund. The fund is supported by the Federal Highway Trust Fund and the state’s fuel tax.

“In an ideal world, all drivers would be focused while on the road,” Stephen Nielson of the Ohio Conference of AAA Clubs previously testified on the bill. “We all know that is not the case.”

“House Bill 51 seeks to ensure all future road development in Ohio is more forgiving of driver error.”

The bill awaits additional consideration in the Senate.

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