The implementation and continuing development of robust highway visual inspection regimes has seemingly taken on a new importance for state/territory and local road agencies since the abolition of the Highway Rule (non-feasance immunity) in 2002 through the landmark High Court civil cases of Ghantous and Brodie. However, as laudable as many of the local developments have been in this area, it can be argued that a well designed, robust visual inspection regime is merely a fundamental building block in the system for the management and maintenance of any asset, rather than being necessitated with respect to roads by the Courts and/or state/territory legislation. The largest cost associated with the undertaking of a visual inspection regime on a highway network is in physically providing the inspector on-the-ground in the first instance. There are a number of practical ways (discussed subsequently in this paper) in which agencies have optimised / can optimise the value they accrue (including ultimately, the contribution towards positive road safety outcomes) from the undertaking of its visual inspection regime, by assuming a proactive approach and requiring, encouraging and empowering inspectors to be multitasking. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. 0612AR242E.
Abstract