A Road Safety Audit (RSA) is the formal examination of an existing or future road or traffic project by an independent team of trained specialists. Its main objective is to address the safe operation of a roadway and to ensure a high level of safety for all road users. The RSA team assesses the crash potential and safety performance of a roadway project and prepares a report that identifies potential safety problems. RSAs can identify deficiencies before they are built into the project and espouse quality improvement by building in safety from the beginning. Project officials or managers can then evaluate, select and justify appropriate project changes.
The role of the road safety audit is being studied at the national, state, and local level. The Pennsylvania DOT provides one example of a state’s effort in this regard. More information can be found at the FHWA web site listed in the footnote, as well as at http://www.roadwaysafetyaudits.org/Seminars/index.htm, which is operated by the Institute of Transportation Engineers