The development of the accident prevention discipline known as Road Safety Audit (RSA) is outlined. The aim of RSA is to identify where accidents might arise in proposed road projects and to ensure that they are designed out early in the design process. RSA aims to reduce the 20% of road accidents that are caused by a combined result of human error and highway failure. The reasons for the slow take up of RSA among highway authorities in developed countries are described. A major review of RSA in the UK was implemented in 2000 and culminated in the publication of the new HD19 Standard. A review of RSA by the European Union's European Transportation Safety Committee recommended that technical guidelines on RSA should be produced and that an EU Directive requiring that all major new road schemes be subject to an independent RSA. The Institute of Road Safety Auditors was launched at the International Road Safety Audit Forum in October 2003 to provide support for those undertaking and interested in RSA.
Samenvatting