Kingston Hill's new road surface.

[shar2]

I've recently been driving home through Kingston-upon-Thames from Wandsworth. Something I haven't done for a while as there was too many roadworks and traffic so used the A3. At the bottom of Kingston Hill there are newish traffice lights at the Junction to Kingston Hospital and again from the Hospitals new car park. The new roadsurface is quite nice and smooth except nearing the traffic lights where it has been roughed up in ridges. The question I have is WHY is this done, is it for blind motorists who can't see the traffic lights so need to feel when they are coming up to a set?

[Rochester BMW]

I work on designing junction just like the one in question.

The reason this was done most likely to have been done is due to one of the following reasons.

1. Kingstons Council design guide requires a 'rumble strip' on the approach to controlled crossing when on a class B or higher grade road / or with a national speed limit (60mph)

2. If the junction is in frequent use (i.e it has a high traffic volumn) then the Hospital Authority (or again Kingston Council) may have requested the need of rumble strips in order to make drivers aware of potential Ambulances Entering and exiting the hospital in the event of an emergency.

Blind drivers are not allowed to drive as far as i know.

Hope this helps to answer your question...

[shar2]

Thanks for that. Seems rather a dumb question now