AE-1: Safety Audit

Goal

Improve roadway safety through review by an independent audit team.

Requirements

Conduct a road safety audit (RSA) on the project roadway in accordance with the procedures set forth in FHWA’s Road Safety Audit Guidelines. The Guidelines define three general phases of a project during which a RSA may be conducted.

1 point is awarded for each RSA conducted up to a maximum of 2 points.

1. Preconstruction phase RSA. Performed before construction begins. Recommended changes are generally less costly and result in less delay.
2. Construction phase RSA. Performed during preparations construction. They allow the roadway to be viewed as built and offer a last chance to assess safety before it is opened to the public.
3. Post-construction phase RSA. Performed on existing roads to identify road safety issues for different road users.

Note: For a given roadway project, it is likely that preconstruction and construction phase RSAs are appropriate. A post-construction phase RSA in addition to these two RSAs would typically be redundant and is therefore not advisable. See the “Examples” section for situations where a post-construction phase RSA may be appropriate.

Documentation

Submit a copy of the “RSA report” and “formal response” as defined in the FHWA’s Road Safety Audit Guidelines (2006) for each RSA.

OR

For agencies with existing safety audit programs, provide a letter, signed by the agency representative for the project, stating that the existing agency program meets or exceeds the requirements defined in the FHWA’s Road Safety Audit Guidelines (2006). Submit a copy of agency program documents that meet the criteria defined in FHWA’s guidelines as noted above.

Public commentary on credit AE-1