Road Safety Inspectionin AustriaThomas Fessl

Best in Europe ConferenceBrussels, February 21-22 2006

Road Safety Inspection (RSI) is a periodical controlling instrument of the existing road network (including roadsides), independently of number of accidents.

RSI allows the implementation of remedial measures before accidents occur.

source: High Level Working Group on RoadInfrastructure Safety, 2003

Road Safety InspectionRoad Safety Inspection of Austrian motor- and expressways

Road Safety InspectionRoad Safety Inspection of Austrian motor- and expressways

expresswayinspected sections 2003,2004,2005sections under inspection

A 2

A 8

A 7

S 36S 31

A 4

A 10A 9 S 6

S 35A 9

A 8

A 21A 1

A 9A 2A 2

A 12A 14

A 22

S 4

In Austria, Road Safety Inspection of motorways and expressways started in July 2003.

- 2003 and 2004: 11 inspected sections- 2005/2006: 10 sections

motorway

Road Safety InspectionRoad Safety Inspection of Austrian motor- and expressways

RSI in a team (road safety experts & civil engineers) including:

• accident analysis – accident map• analysis of the traffic conditions• analysis of the constructional elements• inspection – on-site visit• meetings and interviews with motorway maintenance

unit and traffic police• analysis of road surface (pavement rating - ruts, friction,

…)• analysis of road maintenance measures• analysis of road environment

remedial measures (short-, medium-, long term)

Example: section A 2 South motorway - Wechsel(Lower Austria)

Accident mapCatalogue ofproposed measures

installation of a speeding warning system

structural measures (long term):

- to broaden the shoulder lane

- corrections of crossfalls

lane markings with increased night visibility in wet road conditions

improvement of winter maintenance

tunnel

Road Safety InspectionRoad Safety Inspection of Austrian motor- and expressways

interchange Krumbach

interchange Edlitz

interchange Zöbern

rest areaZöbernprovince

border

variable speed limit

existing speed camera – to be

in operation permanently

existing speed camera

Road Safety InspectionRoad Safety Inspection of Austrian motor- and expressways

Measures Status Time of implementation

/planning

Qualitative evaluation

Short term

SectionControl

has been implemented

February 2005 personal injury accident: reduction of

60 %damage – only accident

reduction of 30 %

Accident investigation in the area of the Section Control

currently being carried out

results in June 2006

-

Lane markings with increased night visibility in wet road conditions

has been implemented

2005 no improvement(according to the

motorwaymaintenance unit)

Section A 2 South motorway - Wechsel

At present, Road Safety Inspection pilot study on secondary road networks (contracted by the Austrian Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology):

RSI is carried out at seven selected sections in Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland:

• rural roads• municipal roads

The results of the RSI (sections) will bereflected in a draft guideline in May

2006.

Road Safety InspectionRoad Safety Inspection of secondary road networks in Austria

RIPCORD-ISEREST (WP5)Best Practice Guidelines on Safety Inspection

• Start: January 2005• End: September 2007

Goals: Standardised approach for RSI in

Europe Setting up of implementation plan Developing of checklists Carrying out of practicability tests

Road Safety Inspectionwithin the 6FP Project RIPCORD-ISEREST

Main problemsin defining a common understanding of RSI

Existence of great number of RSI approaches across Europe

Lack of a standardised RSI approach within the countries

No legal basis for RSI in most countries No standardised RSI reporting in most

countries

Road Safety Inspectionwithin the 6FP Project RIPCORD-ISEREST

Common understanding on RSI

Preventive tool Independent of the occurred number of

accidents Regular inspection Covering the whole existing road network Carried out by trained traffic expert team

Road Safety Inspectionwithin the 6FP Project RIPCORD-ISEREST

Current approach in Austria

Selection of inspection sites depending on the actual number of occurred accidents, priority given to sections with an accident rate above average

Road Safety Inspection in Austria

Is it RSI at all or another road infrastructuresafety management tool?

Road Safety InspectionThomas FesslKfV – Road Safety Economics

www.kfv.atwww.ripcord-iserest.com

Tel.: +43-(0)577077-1210thomas.fessl@kfv.at