Urban development often brings with it a range of challenges—traffic congestion, safety concerns, and community complaints being among the most persistent. For local governments like Logan City Council in Queensland, ensuring road safety and maintaining the peace in rapidly growing neighbourhoods is a constant balancing act. One recent initiative that has delivered tangible results in addressing these concerns is the installation of 600mm yellow rumble bars in collaboration with our team.
This case study analyzes the extent, adoption, and effect of the rumble bar roll-out—how it responded to motorists’ grievances, increased visibility in busy drive-thru lanes, and efficiently cut traffic-related accidents at key points along Logan.
Before the enforcement, Councils had been experiencing mounting and increasing complaints from citizens and drivers, primarily in service stations, fast food outlet drive-through lanes, and turning areas that were bottlenecked. The primary concerns emerging from the complaints were:
These issues were diminishing levels of neighbourhood comfort and security and disrupting traffic flow. Regular line marking and road signage were not effective, especially during nighttime or with distracted drivers.
An additional visual, as well as physical deterrent, was needed, in the view of council officials, something which would improve driver behaviour without imposing expensive civil measures or radical structural changes to roads. That’s where our 600mm yellow rumble bars came into play.
Rumble bars, or surface-mounted traffic separators and lane delineators, are low-profile and highly visible devices utilised to:
In consultation with Council’s traffic engineering team, we jointly identified several priority locations for installation.
These included:
We selected our 600mm yellow rumble bar on the basis of low maintenance needs, durability, and visibility ratio. The modularity of the structure made it possible to install it rapidly with minimal traffic disturbance, and the high visibility offered by the colour yellow ensured they were visible at all times.
Success in the project was critically dependent on thorough planning, coordination, and community participation. At every step of the way, our staff coordinated very closely with Council team members:
In order to determine the complaint number, pattern of traffic stream, and risk, council traffic officers inspected the sites. We considered the geometry of each site together to ensure the rumble bar would direct the cars correctly without inhibiting emergency access or lawful turns.
A precise rumble bar configuration was provided to each site. We used staggered or curved arrangements to guide paths of wheels in certain situations, and unbroken rows of rumble bars to demarcate lanes in others. This flexibility allowed us to customise the system to the specific requirements of each site.
Our off-peak installation team worked to minimise any disruption. No excavation work was required using high-strength adhesives and fastening to securely fasten the surface-mounted bars, which had no disruption at all. All installations took a matter of hours.
The upcoming upgrades were pre-announced to residents and business operators. Council also established a hotline for comments after installation. During the initial month, our staff paid close attention to any modifications that would be needed.
The response to the rollout was overwhelmingly positive, both in terms of quantifiable metrics and qualitative feedback.
Within the first six weeks of installation, Council reported a substantial drop in community complaints from affected areas, down by over 60% in some zones. Motorists were noticeably more disciplined, following intended travel paths and reducing their speed when navigating corners.
The bright yellow rumble bars created a clear delineation, making it less likely for drivers to enter opposing lanes mistakenly. This proved especially effective during wet weather and night-time driving, where standard line marking alone can be hard to see.
Unlike standard road paint, rumble bars offer tactile feedback—drivers feel a slight vibration and hear an audible “bump” if they drive over one. This real-time feedback served as a corrective measure, reminding drivers to stay within their boundaries.
Six months on, the rumble bars continue to perform well, showing minimal wear despite constant exposure to traffic, weather, and street cleaning. Their durable material resists fading, cracking, and detachment, reducing maintenance costs for council teams.
At school pick-up zones and shopping centres, the presence of rumble bars helped guide vehicles away from pedestrian access points. Council rangers have noted an increase in driver caution and awareness in these areas.
Numerous elements had a part in this initiative’s success:
Council Perspective
According to a Council spokesperson:
“This initiative exceeded our expectations. In addition to lowering neighbourhood concerns, it showed how basic traffic control instruments may have a big impact on traffic flow and safety. Similar installations will soon be implemented in additional high-risk locations.”
Conclusion: A Model for Smarter Urban Traffic Solutions
This successful partnership between our team and Council shows that impactful urban traffic solutions don’t always need to be expensive or complicated. By leveraging the right product—in this case, our 600mm yellow rumble bars—councils can address multiple concerns simultaneously: driver behaviour, pedestrian safety, complaint resolution, and infrastructure preservation.
The success of the rollout sets a strong precedent for other local governments across Australia. Whether in urban drive-thrus, narrow lanes, or complex intersections, rumble strips can play a vital role in promoting safe driving habits and enhancing public safety.
For councils, contractors, or commercial premises looking to implement similar upgrades, our team is ready to assist with design, supply, and installation tailored to your unique site requirements.
Interested in improving traffic safety in your local area?
Contact us today to learn how our rumble bar solutions can help improve road behaviour, reduce complaints, and make your spaces safer for everyone.
For 10 years, our focus has been on one thing: to provide one style of product and to do it well.
Our wheel stops, speed humps and rumble bars meet Australian Standards, don’t fade, and we’ve never needed to replace one.
For 10 years, our focus has been on one thing: to provide one style of product and to do it well.
Our wheel stops, speed humps and rumble bars meet Australian Standards, don’t fade, and we’ve never needed to replace one.
