MnDOT Testing Quieter 'Rumble Strips'

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- You know that familiar sound, the one that jolts you to attention whenever your vehicle starts to stray toward the highway shoulder.

Now, the Minnesota Department of Transportation is studying quieter rumble strips.

Tests conducted near Thief River Falls found these quieter strips still do the job of alerting drivers when they're veering off the road.

Right now about 800 miles of Minnesota roads have traditional rectangular rumble strips.

The quieter strips being used in California produce as much noise inside the vehicle, but less outside.

MnDOT says it plans on putting the new strips in areas where residents have complained about the noise.