A road safety audit is a formal examination of an existing or future road or traffic project, or any project which interacts with road users, in which an independent, qualified examiner reports on the project's accident potential and safety performance. This guideline for road safety auditing draws together current practices in Australia and overseas. It provides practitioners and decision makers in highway authorities with ways of formally addressing road safety issues before accidents occur. Audits can be conducted during the design of new road and traffic treatments, during construction under traffic, or during maintenance and management of existing roads. The guide provides an introduction to the audit process: its history, quality assurance implications, legal issues, and costs and benefits. It also gives guidance on how to conduct a safety audit. Case studies are included, as are a series of safety principles and safety checklists.
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