So Long To Botts Dots
The Sacramento Bee tells us CalTrans is going to get rid of Botts Dots- those being the raised plastic bumps between lanes on freeways that alert you if you inadvertently drift into the wrong lane. I'm not sure I've ever seen them- the picture showing them to be white and red. I couldn't figure out how to put a picture of them on this post since Sacbee has them on video. As the wife pointed out when I showed her the picture: "I thought they were yellow". Yep, I always thought those things marking lanes were yellow. Maybe they don't use Botts Dots on 101?
So we'll see how that switch works. The story didn't answer a question I've had for some time: What are those strips CalTrans cuts into the pavement on the right side of the freeway that warn you you're drifting off the right side of the road?. I'm sure most of us have been brought back awake when we run over those things. No getting away from the noise the car makes when you go over them.
posted by Fred Mangels @ 7:57 AM
11 comments
11 Comments:
i call those bumps , drunk bumps
at night when your headlights shine on them and your in the proper lane they shine white and if in the wrong direction they shine red . and when cal trans plows the roads they pop off the road and need replacing unless they dished to road to place them .
those new rumble strips a noisy wake up either when your tired or just cutting a corner a tad .
i like the reflector bumps . in heavier rain or light snow you can still see the road or your lane cause the paint on the road gets hard to see at times
Judging from the amount drivers I see bouncing left to right probably should change the name to texting strips.
Those strips they have on the right side of the road I call "Connie strips" since she's always going over them. I e-mailed my nephew who is a CalTrans engineer and asked him what they were called. He never replied.
I believe "Bots Dots" are not the square ones that shine either white or red depending on the direction of traffic but white round ones that are placed between the square ones instead of striping the traffic lanes. I remember them being introduced about 1964.
Rick Wentworth said...
" in heavier rain or light snow you can still see the road or your lane cause the paint on the road gets hard to see at times "
On Berry Summit going towards Willow Creek you can't see any painted lines after a coup[le of sandings. Stays that way until spring time.
D.W.
Former Caltrans employee here -- Rick Wentworth answered your question. Your Connie strips are called rumble strips.
I can't tell you how many times we've had to drive by Brail due to fog.
" Your Connie strips are called rumble strips"
Thanks. I was hoping someone here would know.
The shoulder 'bumpy strips' are actually known as "siping",(imprinted while the asphalt is hot) & used for safety. Who knows the origin of the word?
"The shoulder 'bumpy strips' are actually known as "siping","
Is that the same word used for what Les Schwab Tire used to offer for tires? They advertised it in their shop for a while. They'd take tires and make slices through them with heavy duty blades, the idea being the slices in the tires made them hold to the road better.
I didn't see the poster last time I was at Les Schwab. I'm guessing it never caught on.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siping_(rubber)
and the Feds call them rumble strips...
http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/roadway_dept/pavement/rumble_strips/rumble_types/
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