Guide to road safety audits (RSAs)

A road safety audit (RSA) is an important was to check everything from signage and traffic control measures to the placement of road safety barriers. It’s important to be meticulous for this process to ensure all bases are covered and the maximum number of safety precautions are in place.

This guide covers the audit process, key considerations, and legal factors involved in a road safety audit. We will also look at when to consider installing Armco barrier support to ensure permanent road safety or temporary worksite safety during construction processes.

CT safety barriers offer products for a wide range of road environments.

What is a road safety audit (RSA)?

A road safety audit is systemic, independent inspection of road designs and construction phases. Conducted by trained auditors, this process encompasses several key steps with the goal of reducing accidents and protecting road users, while adhering to legal requirements.

By assessing road layout, safety barrier placement, and traffic flow, a road safety audit leads the auditor to actionable insights into extra safety precautions they can take in the future.

Road Safety Audit stages

A road safety audit is comprised of 4 key stages:

1. Preliminary design

This first stage of a road’s design considers land use, licensing, and detailed site analysis. It also includes internal reviews related to safety such as road user analyses and traffic flow forecasting. All this determines the road safety measures that need to be implemented for a safe result.

2. Detailed design

Next, the preliminary plans are taken and put into practice. Contractors take the technical specifications previously laid out and get them ready for construction. This phase also focuses on more comprehensive and precise specifications like junction layouts, safety barrier placement, and lighting.

3. Construction & Completion

Once plans are complete, implementation begins. This process involves site preparation, traffic management, excavation and levelling, drainage installations, lighting, and signage. Pedestrian safety is of paramount importance at this stage, so consider setting up temporary safety barriers to cordon the area off while maximising safety for both the public and construction crews.

4. Post-opening monitoring

Once the build is complete, the area is monitored and reviewed over a 12-month period to identify any further safety issues that were missed initially or become issues later. The process involves reviewing collision records, figuring out where incidents occur, and comparing records before and after the incident to determine and mitigate the causation factors.

Key considerations for road safety audits

There are several fundamental elements to consider for a road safety audit:

1. Road users

The audit must take all road users into account, including vulnerable users like pedestrians and cyclists. Road safety audits can affect road users as they change the infrastructure of a road, impacting user behaviours, so it’s vital to agree on logistics that streamline the road as a utility.

2. Public & worker safety

It’s important to prioritise the construction zone for both the public and the contractors doing the work to minimise the risk of injuries while safety-proofing the road for the construction period and for the long-term road usage, which can include traffic and permanent pedestrian safety barriers.

3. Operating conditions

During the design stages, you must ensure that operating conditions are safe, both for the construction process and for when the road is open.

4. Planning & prioritisation

Planning determines which areas are most at risk of damages or accidents, leading you to the areas that most need adjusting to optimise safety.

Legal requirements for road safety audits

Road safety audits are legally required under the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) for the strategic road network, as well as for the European Directive 2008/96EC of the Trans European Road Network.

These are not considered legal documents, but the idea is that in the unfortunate event of an incident like a fatal accident, the audit process can be examined and reported, and the relevant bodies can formulate a response that could lead to action being taken, with evidence.

For this reason, it’s crucial your audit is carried out with due diligence and adheres to these standards, or you could run the risk of legal repercussions in the event of an incident.

The importance of road safety barriers for road safety audits

Safety barriers are an important part of the road safety audit for a few reasons:

1. Protection: Barriers protect drivers, pedestrians, and general road users by minimising the severity of accidents.
2. Guidance: Barriers guide road users along an intended path, which is even more important for tricky structures that have curves and steep edges.
3. Protecting vulnerable areas: Projects that involve bridges, steep drop-offs, and heavy pedestrianisation require extra layers of protection.
4. Minimising legal risks: As described above, barriers may be an important part of your legal obligations for the audit, so it’s vital to review those legal commitments to ensure they are followed.
5. Overall safety: Well-positioned, visible safety barriers provide reassurance for drivers and road users, contributing to a community of trust.

Types of barriers for road safety audits

There are several possible options for barrier safety for your road safety audit, and you may require one or multiple of them depending on the environment, topography, and how heavily pedestrianised the area is.

Armco crash barriers

Armco barriers are known for their durability and ability to absorb impact, making them ideal for providing permanent protection for roadsides, carparks, and pedestrian zones.

Traffic Armco barriers

Traffic barriers can be used temporarily or permanently and help to manage traffic flow and protect work zones throughout the auditing process.

Car park protection barriers

Sometimes, your safety audit will assess parking environments. Car park protection barriers prevent vehicles from encroaching pedestrian zones, reducing risks of collision whether you use them, for identifying parking structures or directing pedestrian pathways.

Safety handrails

If your road safety audit involves a pedestrian pathway, you can use handrails to safeguard pedestrians from vehicles and create designated routes around the construction zones. This is especially helpful when pedestrian safety near traffic-heavy zones is an important part of the audit.

Bollards

If you need flexible but strong deterrents against vehicles, bollards can control vehicle access, ensuring pedestrians, cyclists, and other more vulnerable road users are protected from vehicles performing road works or installing traffic lights and signage.

Safety-proof your road project with CT Safety products

At CT Safety Barriers, we supply our clients with a vast array of safety products, from barriers to bollards. Whether you’re looking for temporary solutions for the road construction process, or permanent safety fixtures for the completed road or area, we have the means to provide the safety you need for a successful audit.

We recommend looking at the full range of Armco barriers available on our website, and then reaching out to our team of professionals to discuss your needs.

Call us on (01977) 666 818

Alternatively, email us at sales@ctsafetybarriers.co.uk