Ohio House bill would mandate centerline rumble strips

An effort on the move in the Ohio House would mandate centerline rumble strips on certain roadways. More than half of all states use the safety feature.

In 2018, 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 Transportation and Public Safety Committee voted unanimously on Tuesday, June 18, to recommend for passage a bill to require the state 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 rumble strips along all two-lane highways would cost ODOT between $700 and $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 further consideration in the House.

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