UNIT-III Notes

Key Elements of a Road Safety Audit (RSA)

​ Definition

A Road Safety Audit is a formal examination of a road or traffic project by an

independent, qualified team.

​ Objective

To identify potential safety issues and suggest improvements for all road users.

​ Independent Audit Team

Qualified, multidisciplinary, and independent from the design team.

​ Stages of Audit

Feasibility Preliminary
Design Detailed Design
Pre-Opening
Post-Construction

​ Audit Process

Define scope → Collect data → Site visit → Identify issues → Report → Client response

​ Focus on All Road Users

Ensures safety for pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, vehicles, and disabled users.

​ Site Inspection

Carried out during day and night to capture real-world conditions.

​ Audit Report

Lists safety concerns, their locations, possible consequences, and

recommendations.

​ Recommendations, Not Redesigns

Auditors suggest improvements, but do not modify design directly.

​ Follow-Up

Client reviews report and decides on actions to implement.

Audit Team Composition

​ Lead Road Safety Auditor

​ Traffic engineer

​ Road design engineer

​ Possibly: law enforcement, accessibility experts

Road Safety Audit Report Includes

​ Introduction and audit scope

​ Observations and issues (with locations)
​ Photos or sketches

​ Recommendations
​ Risk ratings (optional)

Benefits of Road Safety Audit (RSA)

​ Identifies safety issues before they cause crashes.

​ Focuses on potential risks not yet visible in crash data.

​ Ensures safety for pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, and the disabled.

​ Promotes inclusive road design beyond just vehicles.

​ Helps reduce the number of accidents.

​ Minimizes injury severity when accidents do occur.

​ Cheaper to correct design issues during planning than post-

construction.

​ Prevents costly reconstruction, legal fees, and accident-related costs.

​ Encourages best practices in road geometry, signage, lighting, etc.

​ Enhances the overall functionality and usability of the road.

​ Embeds safety as a core value in road planning and design.

​ Raises awareness among planners, engineers, and decision-makers.

​ Provides unbiased recommendations for safety improvements.

​ Allows for timely and relevant adjustments throughout the project lifecycle.

​ Demonstrates government or agency commitment to road safety.

​ Improves community trust in public infrastructure projects.

​ Serves as a documented effort to enhance road safety.

​ Can reduce legal liabilities in the event of accidents or claims.

Road Safety Audit Process

Identify Need & Define Scope

●​ Decide stage of audit (design, pre-opening, etc.)
●​ Set audit boundaries and objectives
Assemble Audit Team
●​ Independent, qualified, multidisciplinary team
Collect Background Data
●​ Traffic data, crash history, plans, drawings, site details
Conduct Site Visit
●​ Inspect location in day and night conditions
●​ Observe driver, pedestrian, and cyclist behaviour
Identify Safety Issues
●​ Spot potential hazards
●​ Consider all types of road users
Prepare Audit Report
●​ Document findings with photos and recommendations Submit
Report to Client/Designer
●​ Provide audit report to responsible agency or team
Client Response & Implementation
●​ Client reviews and decides on action for each recommendation

Road Safety Audits & Investigations Road

Safety Audits (RSA)

​ Proactive approach – identifies potential safety issues before crashes occur

​ Conducted at various project stages – feasibility, design, pre- opening,

post-opening

​ Independent, multidisciplinary team

​ Covers all road users – pedestrians, cyclists, vehicles, disabled persons

​ Involves site inspections – day and night visits

​ Audit report – outlines hazards and provides safety recommendations

 ​ Client reviews and responds – decides on actions to be taken

​ Improves overall road design & user safety

Road Safety Investigations

​ Reactive approach – focuses on locations with existing crash history

​ Crash data analysis – uses traffic accident records and patterns

​ Identifies causes of accidents – road layout, signage, behaviour, weather,

etc.

​ Recommends countermeasures – geometric improvements, signals, signs,

enforcement

​ Prioritizes high-risk areas – cost-effective safety upgrades

​ Supports black spot treatment programs

​ Improves safety through targeted interventions

Crash Investigation and Analysis

Crash Investigation

​ On-site examination of a crash location to understand causes

​ Conducted soon after the crash (if possible)

​ Collects physical evidence – skid marks, vehicle positions, debris, etc.

​ Takes photographs and measurements

​ Interviews drivers, passengers, and witnesses

​ Assesses environmental conditions – lighting, weather, road surface

​ Identifies contributing factors – human error, road design, vehicle failure.

Crash Analysis

​ Uses crash data over time (not just one event)

​ Identifies patterns and trends in crash occurrences

​ Classifies crashes – by type (rear-end, side impact), severity, time, etc.
 ​ Analyses high-risk locations – crash-prone areas or black spots

​ Uses statistical methods – for frequency, severity, and correlation

​ Recommends safety improvements – engineering, enforcement,

education

​ Supports policy decisions and road safety programs.

Methods for Identifying Hazardous Road Locations

1.​ Crash Frequency Method

●​ Identifies locations with high number of crashes over a period.

●​ Simple and widely used; focuses on crash count only.

2.​ Crash Rate Method

●​ Considers both crash frequency and exposure (vehicles/day).

●​ More accurate for comparing roads with different traffic volumes.

3.​ Equivalent Property Damage Only (EPDO) Index

●​ Assigns weights to crashes based on severity (fatal, injury, property damage).

●​ Prioritizes locations with more severe accidents.

4.​ Rate Quality Control Method (RQCM)

●​ Compares crash rate at a location to average rate for similar sites.

●​ Flags statistically significant deviations as hazardous.

5.​ Hazard Index Method

●​ Ranks locations based on multiple factors (crash severity, traffic volume,

visibility, etc.).
●​ Produces a composite risk score.

6.​ Accident Severity Index

●​ Focuses on injury and fatality levels rather than number of crashes.

●​ Helps identify high-impact locations needing urgent action.

7.​ Traffic Conflict Technique

●​ Observes and records near-misses or unsafe interactions.

●​ Useful in proactive safety assessment where crash data is limited.
Safety During Construction

1.​ Site Safety Planning

●​ Prepare a site-specific safety plan before construction begins

●​ Identify potential hazards and assign responsibilities

2.​ Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

●​ Ensure all workers wear appropriate PPE – helmets, gloves, boots, vests,
goggles, etc.

3.​ Clear Signage and Barricades

●​ Install warning signs, cones, and barriers to guide workers and road users
●​ Use reflective materials for night visibility

4.​ Traffic Management Plan (TMP)

●​ Design a plan for safe movement of vehicles and pedestrians near the work
zone
●​ Use flaggers or temporary signals if needed

5.​ Equipment Safety

●​ Regularly inspect machinery and tools

●​ Train operators and restrict unauthorized use

6.​ Worker Training & Awareness

●​ Conduct safety inductions and toolbox talks regularly

●​ Educate workers on emergency procedures and hazard reporting

7.​ Emergency Preparedness

●​ Keep first aid kits, fire extinguishers, and emergency contact info on- site
●​ Train workers in basic first aid and evacuation

8.​ Regular Safety Inspections

●​ Conduct routine safety audits and risk assessments

●​ Fix issues immediately to prevent accidents

9.​ Dust, Noise, and Environmental Control

●​ Use water spraying, noise barriers, and proper waste disposal to protect
environment and health
10.​ Night Work Safety

●​ Provide adequate lighting and high-visibility clothing

●​ Clearly mark hazards and working areas