Road Safety Inspection (RSI)

Road Safety Inspection (RSI)
Herman J. Moning MSc.

Rijkswaterstaat - Centre for Transport and Navigation - The
Netherlands
Overview Eur Dir & PP
Checklists
Schemes/ checklists Planning process European Directive
Method RSIA
RSafety Impact Assessm
Guidelines + checklists
Global design RS Audit Global design
Detailed design RS Audit Detailed design
Checklists
Construction RS Audit Pre-opening
Checklists
Road in operation RS Audit After opening
Method of Inspection
Network Safety Mgt RS Inspection
Maintenance
4 December 2008 Road Safety Inspection 2

Presentation RSI
Schemes/ checklists Planning process European Directive
Method RSIA
RSafety Impact Assessm
Global design RS Audit Global design
Detailed design RS Audit Detailed design
Checklists
Construction RS Audit Pre-opening
Checklists
Road in operation RS Audit After opening
Method of Inspection
Network Safety Mgt RS Inspection
Maintenance

Content RSI
 What prescribes EU-directive (October 2008)?
 What is a road safety inspection?
 Why to execute inspections?
 Who should execute inspections?
 How to execute an inspection?
 What is the frequency of inspections?
 How to report the results?
 What to do tomorrow in Cyprus?

European Directive (1)
 Road safety inspections contain:
• periodic inspections of the road network on the road
safety of the traffic flow
• surveys on the possible impact of road works on the
road safety of the traffic flow
 Member States shall ensure that periodic inspections are

undertaken by the competent entity

European Directive (2)
 Inspections shall be sufficiently frequent to safeguard

adequate safety levels for the road infrastructure in
question
 Member States shall adopt guidelines on temporary safety

measures applying to road works. They shall also
implement an appropriate inspection scheme to ensure
that those guidelines are properly applied

Content RSI

What is a RSI ?
 A road safety inspection is:

• a regular, systematic on site inspection of existing roads
covering the whole network and in case of road works
• conducted by trained teams of experts
• to identify hazardous conditions and deficiencies that may
lead to (serious) accidents, resulting in a formal report
 RSI is also a tool within Network Safety Management:

• an essential tool for preventing possible dangers for all
road users, including vulnerable users

RSA ⇔ RSI
Remark: RSA and RSI are in large extent based on
similar procedures and checklists
1. RSA stage 1: preliminary design
2. RSA stage 2: building or detailed design
Road will be (re)constructed
3. RSA stage 3: pre-opening audit
4. RSA stage 4: after opening audit
5. RSI: periodical inspections

RSI and daily
maintenance
 It is very important to distinguish two types of inspections:
• Daily maintenance inspections
• Road safety inspections
 Daily maintenance inspection is a daily review where the

infrastructure is reviewed and asap remedied:
• potholes,
• damaged traffic signs,
• broken down traffic lights,
• overhanging branches ….

RSI and daily
maintenance
 Daily maintenance inspection is network management from day
to day:
• carried out by a road inspector
• road inspector has not:
◊ an independent status,
◊ a broad safety focus,
◊ detailed skills for safety inspections
 Both type of inspections form a part of the total management

process and practice

Content RSI

Why RSI’s? (1)
 To evaluate road sections in operation:

• to identify safety hazards which affect any type of road user
• to suggest measures to eliminate or to mitigate problems
• possibility to focus on special problem areas: pedestrians,
road sides, intersections, …..
 Pro-active and re-active approach of road safety
 RSI is a tool within road network safety management.

Objectives are:
• to prevent (serious) accidents
• to keep the consequences of accidents to a minimum
• to avoid expensive remedial work

Why RSI’s (2)
 Causes of road accidents:

• human factors : 95%
• road factors : 16%
• vehicle factors : 6%
 The way in which the road itself influences the road user is
crucial:
• accidents occur because road users fail to cope with their
road environment
• their ability to cope can be influenced by basic design
factors
• infrastructure not only influences accident prevention but
also injury mitigation

Content RSI

Who will perform a RSI (1)?
 The aim is to build teams of road safety inspectors under

justification of a “competent entity”:
• the process / protocol of inspection
• the inspectors have the necessary up-to-date knowledge
 A team of at least two road safety inspectors:

• “independent” of the road administration
• not involved in design / construction
• supported by the road inspector

 Requirements of a road safety inspector:

• relevant experience or training in road design, road
safety, traffic engineering and accident analyses
• an initial training “road safety inspector” resulting in a
certificate of competence
• take part in periodic further training courses

Human being
Vehicle Infrastructure
 Team of inspectors with up to date knowledge of:

• road safety and road design
• human factors / traffic psychology
• enforcement / police
• civil engineering (asphalt expert)
 Alternatives: meetings/interviews relevant experts

Content RSI

How to do RSI: 5 steps
1. Preparation by desk research
2. On site inspection
3. Draw up the report
4. Follow up, implementation of measures
5. Check if everything has been done

Preparation RSI (1)
 Investigations of accident data (3-5 years preceding RSI)
 Traffic data:
• (intended) road function
• traffic volumes (AADT)
• specific groups of road users
 Drawings of the section
 Additionally data:
• speed data
• experience police
• complaints residents / road users
• maintenance schemes/practices
Preparation RSI (2)
Road safety map of Utrecht:

Preparation RSI (3)
 The identification of road sections with

high accident concentrations
• high risk sites
• Network safety management
 A rough analysis of accidents can:

• provide guidance in terms of priorities
• simplify the inspection
 Rough analysis of accident data means:

• types of accidents
• locations of accidents

RSI: where to start?
 High risk sites and/or high accident rates
 E-roads are mostly very important international roads
 Thinking in three road categories

• a through road has priority above a distributor road
• a distributor road has priority above an access road
 Traffic volumes (AADT) within a specific road category
 Road sections where an improvement of infrastructure is

expected to be highly efficient (highest benefit-cost ratio)
 Maintenance works (rehabilitation asphalt)

Inspection: safety principles
1. Functionality of roads: prevent unintended use of

infrastructure
2. Homogeneity: prevent major variations in mass, speed
and direction
3. Recognisability of road design and predictability of the
road course: prevent uncertainty for road users
4. Forgivingness of the physical surroundings: free
recovery zones, passive safety of objects

Ideal road network

On site inspection: time
 Time of inspection
• during daytime and at night
• different seasons (snow)
 By car, bike or feet:

• depends on the type of accidents
• depends on the kind of infrastructure
• the road needs to be seen from the road users’
perspective

On site inspection: questions
 How will all road users cope at all times and in all
conditions with this road environment?
 All dimensions are correct?
 Does the design create confusion?
 Is there too much or too little information?
 Is there too little or too much visibility?
 Does the lay-out or actual condition create hazards or

obstacles to road users (forgiving roadsides)?

On site inspection: tools
 Test the design against the up to date guidelines is

important, but
• given the local circumstances, what is the best solution
• therefore an inspector needs to have experience
 Take pictures and / or video of findings / problems
 Use of checklists is recommended

On site inspection: checklists
 To be used as a tool, an aid at the end of the process:

• to ensure that no major potential safety issue has
been overlooked
 To structure the performing of the inspection:

• checklist per problem area better than general
checklist per road category
 To provide points of particular interest
but …
 Expertise, knowledge and experience of the inspectors
are most crucial to do the inspection!
Overload of information

Inspection result

Design does not support give way

Content RSI

Frequency of inspections
 RSI will become (in future) more or less a routine process
 Cross section, alignment and intersections will not change

during some years, but have to be adapted to:
• changing road functions
• traffic volume changes
• rehabilitations of surface (win-win situation)
 Road safety inspections every 2 to 4 year:

• monitoring of measures of previous inspection will
automatically happen
 Special elements changes (renewing guardrails):

• inspections at irregular intervals?
• preparation of the building design?
Content RSI

RSI report: performance (1)
 Carry out inspections day after day:

• first day: inspection
• second day: report the results
• third day: inspection
 Use photos to support the presentation of

inspection results
 Very important to indicate accurately the

location of the problems
 RSI-report is always negative!

RSI report: content (2)
 Part 1: project data, a brief description of the project
 Part 2: brief description of the problems:

• positive and negative effects
• the relative importance of each problem should be
indicated (high, average, low).
 Part 3: proposals of counter measures

RSI report: content (3)
 Appendix:
• maps and illustrations (photos) in order to clarify the results
• sketch of countermeasures (alternatives)
• list of basis inspection documents
• list of the members of the inspection
• list of all plans and other information examined
 A signed written report
 On request by the client a clarification by the team (no

discussion)
Content RSI

What to do tomorrow
 Continue with your preparing work for RSI
 Set up of competent entity
 Draw up a protocol/guideline:
• The steps to be followed and the elements to be
considered
• Use available literature, guidelines, …
• Decision process of different issues
◊ Combining with daily (maintenance) process
◊ Frequency of safety inspections
◊ Prioritising of roads
◊ ……
What to do tomorrow
 Selection/training inspectors
• Certificated inspectors
• Regularly come back and renew knowledge

Road Safety Inspection (RSI)

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Road Safety Inspection (RSI)

Herman J. Moning MSc.

4 December 2008 Road Safety Inspection 2

Schemes/ checklists Planning process European Directive

4 December 2008 Road Safety Inspection 3

4 December 2008 Road Safety Inspection 4

 Member States shall ensure that periodic inspections are

4 December 2008 Road Safety Inspection 5

 Inspections shall be sufficiently frequent to safeguard

 Member States shall adopt guidelines on temporary safety

4 December 2008 Road Safety Inspection 6

4 December 2008 Road Safety Inspection 7

 A road safety inspection is:

 RSI is also a tool within Network Safety Management:

4 December 2008 Road Safety Inspection 8

1. RSA stage 1: preliminary design

2. RSA stage 2: building or detailed design

Road will be (re)constructed

3. RSA stage 3: pre-opening audit

4. RSA stage 4: after opening audit

5. RSI: periodical inspections

4 December 2008 Road Safety Inspection 9

 Daily maintenance inspection is a daily review where the

4 December 2008 Road Safety Inspection 10

 Both type of inspections form a part of the total management

4 December 2008 Road Safety Inspection 11

4 December 2008 Road Safety Inspection 12

 To evaluate road sections in operation:

 Pro-active and re-active approach of road safety

 RSI is a tool within road network safety management.

4 December 2008 Road Safety Inspection 13

 Causes of road accidents:

4 December 2008 Road Safety Inspection 14

4 December 2008 Road Safety Inspection 15

 The aim is to build teams of road safety inspectors under

 A team of at least two road safety inspectors:

4 December 2008 Road Safety Inspection 16

 Requirements of a road safety inspector:

4 December 2008 Road Safety Inspection 17

 Team of inspectors with up to date knowledge of:

 Alternatives: meetings/interviews relevant experts

4 December 2008 Road Safety Inspection 18

4 December 2008 Road Safety Inspection 19

1. Preparation by desk research

3. Draw up the report

4. Follow up, implementation of measures

5. Check if everything has been done

4 December 2008 Road Safety Inspection 20

 Drawings of the section

4 December 2008 Road Safety Inspection 22

 The identification of road sections with

 A rough analysis of accidents can:

 Rough analysis of accident data means:

4 December 2008 Road Safety Inspection 23

 E-roads are mostly very important international roads

 Thinking in three road categories

 Traffic volumes (AADT) within a specific road category

 Road sections where an improvement of infrastructure is

 Maintenance works (rehabilitation asphalt)

4 December 2008 Road Safety Inspection 24

1. Functionality of roads: prevent unintended use of

4 December 2008 Road Safety Inspection 25

4 December 2008 Road Safety Inspection 26