Road Safety Audits Ghazwan al-Haji PhD student ”On whats goes wrong in road design and how to put it right safely”

Road Safety Audits

Ghazwan al-Haji PhD student

”On whats goes wrong in road design and how to put it right safely”

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What is Road Safety Audits?

A Road Safety Audit (RSA) is a systematic procedure, which brings traffic safety knowledge into the road planning and design process with the purpose of preventing traffic accidents, which carried out by an independent team of trained specialists to address the safe operation of a roadway and to ensure a high level of safety for all road users.

TGTN95/ Road Safety Audit- Case Study

G. al-Haji, PhD student

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Road Safety Audits Review

Road Safety Audit Review (RSAR) is conducted during the design process or existing roads by an independent safety team. The Design Safety Review is more informal and flexible in nature, and provides more opportunities for communication and interaction between the design team and the safety team.



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History and RSA development

Developed by road safety engineers (late1970’s/early 1980’s) in UK in response to

serious and fatal accidents on new road schemes.

Inititated by railway industry development. In 1990, UK Safety Audit guidelines

introduced In 1996, UK Safety Audit guidelines were

revised.TGTN95/ Road Safety Audit- Case Study


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Road Safety Strategy

Safer People Safer roads Safer vehicles Strategic coordination, Transport and land use planning and

management.

Road Safety Audit



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Shared Factors in Road Accidents

Road Safety Audit



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Objectives of RSA & RSAR

To consider the safety of all types of road users (balance) under all types of conditions, such as weather and time of day; and under all level of accident risk.

To consider financial and design problems. To design out safety problems from the

beginning and to reduce post-construction remedial work.



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RSA & accident investigations...

Accident prevention by Audit is better than reduction by accident investigations

Invistigate the factors which contributed to the accidents.

Improve design guides.



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Road Safety Audit Requirements

To all new roads and Highways. All projects completed for roads valued above

10? million SEK. Hazard locations previously identified as being

the worst 10% for accidents injuries. Smaller projects are only audited at later

stages.



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RSA Team Requirements

A road construction safety audit team should has sufficient experience and expertise in the areas of road safety engineering, road construction works, crash investigation and prevention, traffic management, and traffic engineering. It might also include police officers. The size of team depend on size and character of the scheme.



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How to carry out a Safety Audit

Team at least two people. Carried out systematically. Objective assessment. Based on sound safety principles. From the road users’ point of view. Formal reports prepared – stating safety

problem and recommended action Formal responses prepared



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Costs and Benefits of RSA (RSAR)

The cost of conducting safety audits and reviews is approximately 5 to 10 percent of the design cost of a project (less than 0.5 percent of total cost of the project).

Researches indicates that Road Safety Audits have resulted in a 2 to 6 percent reduction in injury collisions. Also the expenses of rebuilding ”black spots” can be avoided.



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RSA and Risk elements

safety audits and reviews are developed to minimize risks for the road users. Risk is a function of probability, consequence and exposure.

Source: http://www.roadsafetyaudit.com/TGTN95/ Road Safety Audit- Case Study


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RSA & RSAR Process

The road safety component

is usually missing in the

design process. The typical

design process should

include RSA and RSAR.

Source: http://www.roadsafetyaudit.com/


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Audits Stages

Different issues can be addressed at each stage. Stage 4 is essential as some aspects may be difficult from two-dimensional plan. Some authorities reduce number of stages depending on the scheme size, type and cost. There can be stage 5 on the existing roads.



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How to conduct a Road Safety Audit

An audit is independent, and safety team is not part of

the design team. It consists of individuals who have

demonstrated road safety engineering expertise. The

role of design team is to receive the specialists’ inputs

(environmental, geotechnical, socio-economical, RSA,

etc) and meeting as possible (balance) the core

project objectives.



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Audit Roles & Responsibilities

Source: http://www.roadsafetyaudit.com/


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Selected Items of Checklist

General items

1. Horizontal and Vertical Alignment

2. Sight and Stopping Distances

3. Traffic lane Safety and Visibility

4. Street Lighting, Roadworks Signs

Traffic Signs and Pavement Markings

1. Signs, Location/Placement

2. Day /Night, Winter/Summer Requirements

3. Delineation and Reflective Markers

4. Pavement Marking TGTN95/ Road Safety Audit- Case Study


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Traffic Signals

1. Temporary Traffic Signals

2. Location, Visibility

3. Signals Display

4. Traffic Movements

Pedestrians and Cyclists

1. Paths

2. Elderly and Disabled

3. Cyclists

4. Safe Grates, Warning TGTN95/ Road Safety Audit- Case Study


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Road Pavement

1. Pavement Defects

2. Skid Resistance, painting

3. Loose Screenings

4. Contrast (Kerb and pavement)

Traffic Speed Management

1. Speed Restriction Signs

2. Speed Management

3. Signs Requirements



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What makes a good Safety Audit Report

Keeps to road safety issuesWell-described safety problemsPractical recommendations Indication of priorities



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What makes a poor Safety Audit Report

Too much emphasis on design features rather than real safety issues

Unclear recommendationsNo indication of prioritiesNot basad on published safety

princliples.



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Monitoring

It is important to monitor its performance in terms of the number and severity of road accidents and casualties.

To monitor schemes one year and three year after completion of schemes.



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Conclusion!

RSA is one key role in preventing accidents. The primary role of the auditor is to identify potential safety problems and report these to design engineer who will make the decision on whether to act on the audits findings. The road safety auditor will not comment on the principles of the project or re-design the scheme. Simply, the Auditor does not provide solutions.



Documents

Road Safety Audits Ghazwan al-Haji PhD student ”On whats goes wrong in road design and how to put it right safely”