Overview of Road Safety Overview of Road Safety Audit ProcessAudit Process

Road Safety Audit Process

Learning Objectives:– Participants should be able to define an RSA

and list the various project phases at which an RSA may be conducted.

– Participants should be able to explain the eight-step RSA process, including the tasks completed during each step and potential challenges to conducting pedestrian RSAs.

– Participants should be able to explain basic elements for establishing an RSA program.

What is a Road Safety Assessment/Audit (RSA)?

A formal safety performance evaluation of an existing or future road or intersection by an independent, multidisciplinary team.

An RSA is a tool that: Reviews observed and potential

safety issues to reduce risk Considers all environmental

conditions Considers all road users

What is a Road Safety Audit?

Why are Road Safety Audits Needed?

Not all road-related safety issues are identified in collision reports.

Road designs need to anticipate and accommodate common errors.

Why are Road Safety Audits Needed?

Road Environment Factors (28%)

Vehicle Factors (8%)

Human Factors (95%)

4%

24% 67%4%

4%

TYPICAL REPORTED CRASH CAUSES

Keep your eye on the ball!

When to Conduct RSAs

Design stage

Regional & Corridor Planning Studies

Existing Facilities

Work Zones

Who to Include in RSAs

Independence = A fresh, unbiased assessmentMultidisciplinary = Multiple perspectives, expertise

Core Team = Safety, Design, Operations, EnforcementSpecial: ADA, Pedestrian, Bicycle, Human Factors

How are RSAs conducted?

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Step 1: Identify RSA Project

• High-collision sites• High-profile (political or

public interest)• Sites at which traffic

characteristics have changed

• Unusual or new features• Many interacting modes• Context-sensitive design• Seasonal changes in traffic

Temporary use Atypical vehicle mix User skill or

training Areas of

opportunity

Step 1: Identify RSA Project

Location: That Way at Kathy Lane Town of Anytown, NY Date: 9 / 30 / 01

Investigator: Chip Seals Roadway Maintenance Foreman

Scale: Not to Scale

3' x 5' box w/headwalls, 0'

412" - POLE #36

APPROX. NORTH

Kathy Lane16" wide, CL = 367'

380'

Three15" Pines

330' Approx. PT335' POLE #35

330'

240'

228' - 18" dia. oak225' - POLE #34

208' - Bridge rail ends

180' - Approx. PC

145' - Bridge Joint

110' - Bridge Joint

165' - POLE #33A

62' - Approx. PT

49' - POLE #32

50' - Bridge Rail starts

(2) 11' asphalt lanes, 2' +/- gravel shoulders

18" dia. oak

Key:

Utility Pole Sign Evergreen Tree Broadleaf Tree Point of Curvature Point of Tangency

PC

PT

Step 1: Identify RSA ProjectPolice Reports

6 5

4 32 1

6

7910

8

Step 1: Identify RSA ProjectTraffic Counts

Step 1: Identify RSA ProjectCrashes and Traffic

Step 2: Select RSA Team Independent Experienced Multidisciplinary

Core Skill Set traffic operations geometric design road safety human factors Ped/bike specialist special users enforcement maintenance

Step 3: Conduct Start-up Meeting Agenda

Introductions Project objectives Project design RSA process Schedule Exchange of

information

RSA Agenda

Day 1 Date

9.00 – 9.30 AM Introduction to RSA process

9.30 – 10.00 AM Project objectives/background

10.00 – 12.00 PM Initial site visit by car

12.00 – 1.00 PM Lunch

1.00 – 5.00 PM Detailed site review

5.00 – 6.30 PM Peak hour review

6.30 – 8.30 PM Dinner

8.30 – 9.30 PM Nighttime site review

Day 2 Date

7.30 – 9.30 AM Continue detailed site review

10.00 – 12.00 PM Individual assignments

12.00 – 1.00 PM Lunch

1.00 – 3.00 PM RSA team develops workshop summary/

3.30 – 4.30 PM Preliminary findings meeting

___ General meeting – all need to attend especially “roadway owners” i.e.,

persons responsible for development of plans and/or facility owner ___ RSA team activity – all who are interested in participating in the site visits

and developing suggestions (excluding roadway owners) ___ Optional RSA team activity – FHWA anticipates doing this work on their

own, but welcomes all who are interested in participating

Lake Ridge Association / Creative Preschool

Trees

Villas(Residential)

Villas(Residential)

N

Step 3: Conduct Start-up Meeting Review Relevant Data

Maps/drawings Future plans Crash data Traffic volume

3; 14%

14; 64%

1; 4%

1; 4%

2; 9%1; 5%

Type of CollisionRight Angle

Rear End

Left Turn

Right Turn

Sideswipe

Head On

Bicycle

Fixed Object

Pedestrian

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4. Field Review

Observe road user characteristics

Observe surrounding land uses

Observe link points to the adjacent transportation network

4. Field ReviewObserve Variable Conditions

Peak and off-peak traffic periods Dry and wet weather Day and night

Perform Field Review

Walk the audit site.

Drive the audit site.21

4. Field ReviewObserve Variable Conditions

• Good safety design features• Safety mitigation features already in place

4. Field ReviewNote Positive features

23

5. RSA Analysis

Workshop setting Review background

reports and design criteria

Systematically review design drawings and/or other information

Identify, prioritize, and mitigate safety issues

POTENTIAL CRASH

FREQUENCY

POTENTIAL CRASH SEVERITY

Possible/Minor Injury

Moderate Injury

Serious Injury Fatal

Frequent Moderately High

High Highest Highest

Occasional Middle Moderately High

High Highest

Infrequent Low Middle Moderately High

High

Rare Lowest Low Middle High

5. RSA AnalysisPrioritize Issues

5. RSA AnalysisDeveloping Appropriate

Suggestions

Short-range measures include: maintenance, vegetation, changing signage or pavement markings, Enforcement & Education

Mid-range measures include: curve widening, repaving, Enforcement & Education Long-range measures include: flattening a curve or modifying a roadway’s vertical alignment, Enforcement & Education

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6(a). Preliminary Findings Meeting

RSA team, design team, owner

Discuss preliminary findings and possible solutions

Use results to write RSA report

6(b). RSA Report Documents the results of

the RSA Identifies and prioritizes

safety issues May include suggestions

for improvements

6(b). RSA Report

Example

IssuesRecommendations

Step 7: Prepare Formal ResponseAgency Responsibilities

7. Response Letter Prepared by the local

road agency (with possible input from designer)

For each audit issue, identifies what action will (or will not) be taken with a brief explanation

Part of the project record

8. Incorporate Findings Incorporate findings based on ranking and

feasibility Some improvements can be implemented

relatively quickly– Short-Term– Intermediate– Long-Term

Keys to Success

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Observe Behavior and Environment

Observe Behavior and Environment

Observe Behavior and Environment

Observe Behavior and Environment

Look for Immediate and Short-Range Improvement Opportunities

Illustrate Concepts…

…Produces Results

Results

Education Strategies Local press conferences Information on hazards and best practices Giveaways

Public Engagement Community meetings Solicit input before

conducting RSA Present findings and final

recommendations at the end of the RSA

Establishing an RSA Program

Introducing RSAs:

1.Piloting RSA projects

2.Developing a formal RSA policy/process

3.Monitoring/refinement, and promotion of the RSA policy/process

– Visit the FHWA RSA website(http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/rsa)

– Contact a FHWA office, LTAP or TTAP, or State/local DOT

– Utilize the RSA Peer-to-Peer Program (http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/rsa/resources/p2p/)

– Subscribe to safety-related newsletters, such as the Road Safety Audit (RSA) Newsletter(http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/rsa/newsletter)

– Subscribe to relevant listservs– Attend a safety conference when

held in your state

Where can I find support?

Pedestrian and Pedestrian and Bicycle RSAsBicycle RSAs

Pedestrian and Bicycle RSA Pedestrian and Bicycle RSA Guidelines and Prompt ListsGuidelines and Prompt Lists

Case Study Town of Duck, North Carolina

– Two lanes with continuous two-way left-turn lane

– Speed limit 25 mph– Shared-use shoulder through

downtown commercial area

Study Area Focus

14 3

6 5

8 7910

2

6

Crash Data (Jan 2006- Oct 2009)

Crash Trends

Eight (8) of 10 incidents involved bicycles traveling southbound against flow of vehicular traffic.

Most vehicular crashes were rear end crashes. Several rear end crashes were caused by

drivers stopping to allow pedestrians/bicyclists to cross the road.

Two (2) pedestrian crashes involved pedestrians walking along the road.

Conflicts Associated with Use of ShoulderDescription: Shared use of shoulder creates conflicts.

Suggestions:•Short-term signage to encourage proper use of facilities.

•Consider allowing bicycles on boardwalk during restricted periods.

•Explore opportunities to create improved cross section through downtown.

Short-term Intermediate Long-term

Direction of Travel for Pedestrians & Cyclists

Description: High number of cyclists observed to travel against traffic in shoulders; pedestrians traveling with traffic.

Suggestions:– Update Town brochure and

Town website to Duck Trail.– Maintain bike lanes.– Install wayfinding signs at

transition points to/from Duck Trail.

– Replace “◊” pavement markings.

– Realign northern and southern transition points.

Short-term Intermediate Long-term

Questions?

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