Road Safety Audit
TII Publication: TII GE-STY-01024
Road Safety Audits
Road Safety Audit (RSA) involves the evaluation of road schemes during design and construction to identify potential hazards to all road users. While RSA is required under the EU Directive on Road Infrastructure Safety Management (EU RISM), it has been incorporated into TII Publications since 2001. RSA is to be carried out on all new national road infrastructure projects and on all schemes which result in a permanent change to the existing road or roadside layout. RSA is also recommended for similar changes to the local and regional road network. TII Publications describes RSA under TII GE-STY-01024 - Road Safety Audit.
RSA is carried out at different stages of an infrastructure project. RSA is a check for safety issues within a scheme rather than an identification of non-compliance with design standards.
During RSA the audit team looks at the scheme from the point of view of all road users, with particular attention being paid to the needs of vulnerable road users. The RSA team identifies potential safety problems within the scheme and makes recommendations to the designer to minimise future collision occurrence and severity.
Road Safety Audit Team
The RSA team is independent of the road design team. The audit team is approved by the overseeing organisation, which is TII in the case of national road schemes. A RSA team consists of a team leader and at least one additional team member.
Road Safety Audit Team Approval
The Road Safety Audit (RSA) team is appointed by the Employer or their representative for the scheme. The RSA team must be independent of the design team. The qualification requirements for RSA teams are outlined in TII-GE-01025 Road Safety Audit – Audit Team Qualifications. Click here to view the RSA team qualification requirements on the TII Publications website.
The qualification and experience status of individuals making up each proposed RSA team must be checked by TII Safety for approval before each audit. TII approves the individuals within each RSA team, rather than consultancy firms bidding for the work.
Applications for approval of audit teams must be submitted through the TII Road Safety Audit Approvals System (RSAAS) website. The RSAAS website can be accessed here. Road Safety Auditors and Road Safety Audit Clients must register on the RSAAS website before entering the system. Click here to download instructions on registering as an auditor and/or client on the RSAAS website.
Click here to download guidelines for submitting a RSA team for approval on RSAAS.
The approval procedure must be carried out for each audit stage for each scheme. In order to ensure a consistent approach, all effort should be made to use the same audit team at each audit stage throughout the design and construction of a particular scheme. Notwithstanding this, it may, in certain circumstances, be necessary for TII to refuse approval for the previously approved team at a later stage audit.
Stages of Road Safety Audit
There are six specific RSA stages. Some RSA stages may be omitted or combined for minor schemes or temporary works.
Stage F (Feasibility): Route selection stage
Stage F is carried out before the route is chosen. RSA at this stage will identify safety features associated with each route option.
Stage 1: Completion of preliminary design, prior to land acquisition
The RSA team members examine the plans and additional information provided. A site visit is required at this stage. Stage 1 RSA notes safety related features within the design.
Stage 2: Completion of detailed design, prior to construction
The detailed designs and additional information are studied by each RSA team member. A site visit is also required at this stage.
Stage 1 &2: Completion of a detailed design, prior to construction
For smaller schemes stages 1 and 2 may be combined together and presented in the one report.
Stage 3: Completion of construction (generally this takes place prior to opening to traffic)
The RSA team must visit the site for a stage 3 audit in daylight and darkness. The RSA team walks, drives and, where appropriate, cycles the scheme to identify potential hazards to all road users.
Stage 4: Early operation at 2-4 months after road opening
The site must be visited again in daylight and darkness during the Stage 4 audit. At stage 4 the RSA team check for road safety issues in light of the behaviour of road users.
Road Safety Audit Reports and Subsequent Actions
A report is prepared by the team for each stage of RSA. With the exception of Stage F part 1, the main body of the audit report contains descriptions and recommendations for each potential road safety problem identified by the Audit team. A Final Audit Report shall contain:
- Letter of approval from TII approving the Employer to appoint the Audit Team
- Audit Report
- Designer Response/Feedback form
- Exception Report if applicable
- Director’s decision on Exception Report if applicable
The procedures for considering RSA recommendations and preparing the audit report are outlined in TII GE-STY-01024 - Road Safety Audit.