Hyderabad: Rumble strips installed on roads to reduce vehicle speed and alert drivers are drawing mixed responses from commuters, police and doctors in Hyderabad.
Daily commuters in Uppal said several stretches in the area have more rumble strips than prescribed under statutory guidelines, raising concerns over vibrations, road safety and discomfort for motorists.
Similar concerns have also been reported by commuters in Gachibowli, Kondapur, Miyapur, Kukatpally, Kothaguda, Hitech City and LB Nagar, where motorists said repeated and raised rumble strips on roads and flyovers affect daily travel.
Residents and pedestrians who regularly travel through Uppal said the repeated rumble strips affect daily movement, especially for two-wheeler riders and people with back pain.
Sathwik, a commuter, said many drivers continue to pass the stretch at speed despite the rumble strips. “It is of no use because no one slows down seeing them. Instead we get back pains because of vibrations. I initially had back pain before, after a while moving over it my back pain increased and I had to rest for two days,” he said.
Another commuter, Rajesh, said the strips slow down some vehicles but added that the design should be reviewed. “Usually heavy vehicles slow down because of it and also two-wheelers a few times,” he said. He added that officials should observe the situation and make changes so that the strips do not become harmful for commuters.
According to IRC:99-2018 guidelines issued by the Indian Roads Congress, standard rumble strips should generally be 20 mm to 30 mm high and 200 mm to 300 mm wide, with around six strips placed at one location and spacing of about one metre between them. The guidelines also mention lower-height thermoplastic rumble markings of 5 mm or 15 mm depending on road conditions.
Traffic police personnel monitoring the stretch said speeding remains common in the area and the rumble strips help in reducing accidents. “Usually traffic passes by at a good speed. That is dangerous for the two-wheelers. There were cases where they slipped and had severe injuries. It helps when the driver is sleepy, the vibrations make them awake,” a traffic policeman said.
Orthopaedic specialist Dr Manoj Kumar said very few medical cases are directly linked to rumble strips. He said problems mainly occur when motorists overspeed. “More cases are caused when people overspeed and slip over it. Speeding on it is also an issue for older people and pregnant women. It has no problem when its purpose is served,” he said.
The issue has raised questions on whether rumble strips in some parts of Hyderabad are being laid according to IRC standards and whether authorities need to review their design and spacing.
The story was written by Syed Naveed Hassan
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